Inspire, Winter 2004

Inspire 25 Dad has had a difficult year in 2004. On January 11, while still in his previous house, he fell and broke his left shoulder. The new house wasn’t complete, so we needed to put him into a local nursing home. Before we could get him into the new house, he fell again in April and broke his left hip. He finally moved in with us in May. Our new house has become a traffic thoroughfare with nurses, aids, therapists, and visitors coming and going. Dad has become the center of attention. While he was in the nursing home, Dad never ate very well. After getting home, he has never stopped eating. Rebekah knows what he likes, and as his “favorite (and only) daughter-in-law,” she makes whatever he wants. My daughters take turns visiting with YeYe (Chinese for “Grandpa”) to keep him busy. They have also become the technicians to fix his TV remote when he can’t get the station he wants. My younger daughter, Sarah, has been known to say to him, “What would you do without me?” Sarah and my older daughter, Hannah, both provide their grandpa, and anyone else in the house, with music from their instruments. Taking care of dad has become a family project and ministry. Believe me, it has never been easy, but it has been rewarding. We are making future memories which will be with us, and we are teaching our children the responsibility of caring for those who can no longer care for themselves. It takes commitment, patience, and forgiveness on everyone’s part! I wish I could write that everything has been going smoothly, but life doesn’t always take the turn that we want it to. In July of this year, Dad fell again, and this time he broke his right hip. After a month’s stay in the hospital and rehab, he is home again, but this time he is not walking. He needs to use a sliding board to move from his wheelchair to the bed, toilet, or car. We are praying for his recovery and strength, but unlike children, elderly parents don’t grow stronger, they grow weaker. Instead of becoming more independent, they become more dependent. It is hard, very hard, but our Father has promised never to leave us, nor forsake us. He has also promised never to test us above that which we can handle, with His help. My family and I hold on to those precious promises from our Heavenly Father. I know that what we are trying to do is right, and that is why we are attempting to do it. Is it a sacrifice? Yes, it is! Does it take time and money? Yes, it does! When Dad first moved in with us, I wanted him to know that he was NOT a burden, and I repeatedly told him that we were glad that he was with us. My father is not the same man that I knew when I was growing up. He is no longer the one I can look up to when I need help or have a question. We have changed roles, and I feel like I’m the parent while he is the child. All the more, I need to look to my Heavenly Father for help and strength, while at the same time caring for and protecting my earthly father. Ed Smith Jr. ’81 and his wife, Rebekah, live in Watsontown, Pennsylvania with their daughters, Hannah (13) and Sarah (11), whom they homeschool, and Ed’s dad, Ed Sr. Ed works as a literacy teacher with the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the United States Penitentiary Allenwood. Rebekah is a lecturer in Chinese language at Susquehanna University. The family is seeking to help AIDS orphans and victims in China. The Smiths may be contacted at edsmith@evenlink.net .