I married into this family...

We are getting almost daily email reports on the oldest and the youngest/newest on my husband's side of the family. I try to be careful to forward the emails and news on to Bob. But, he is already on the lists for his uncle.

In his nineties, Bob's uncle has lived alone for a few years now. Sadly, they used the word "dementia" this time after he fell in his back yard, and got bruised up and dehydrated. He had a call thingy around his neck, but did not have a clear enough mind to use it. He has been transferred from the hospital now to the rehab/nursing home. He was there once before. It is a pretty nice facility. But, it has to be confusing to him.

The newest in the family is also on Bob's side of the family---five pounds, nine ounces born on Saturday morning at 2:08am. The doctor wants to keep her hospitalized because she was three or four weeks early. They are monitoring her breathing, temperature, and something else. But, she is not on oxygen.

I can't help but wonder, ponder, marvel at the contrast. Bob's uncle has lived a full, wonderful life. He is tired. He is ready to go home to heaven. God has a perfect time for that homecoming. And oh, what a wonderful reunion it will be with his wife, and siblings and parents.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for Uncle Bill. Please give him a clear mind, and peace, and help him to be good until the end. You have a perfect time to call him home. Please bless all the nurses and doctors and workers that come in contact with him. I pray that they are patient, gentle, and alert to what he needs. Please bless his daughter and sons and their families as they seek Your Will. And for this newest to the clan, please strengthen her, bless her new parents, and give wisdom to the nurses and doctors who have contact with Karen. Please let her go home to that apartment with her parents and show them exactly how to parent little Karen physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Hers may be a life on a mission field far away with her folks. Please bless her and keep her safe. You have a perfect plan for her life, too. Over ninety years stretch between these two---Uncle Bill and great-great niece Karen. I am sorry Uncle Bill may not remember being told about her. And I am sorry little Karen will only know him by stories. But, I hope someday, someone tells her how her Great-Great Uncle Bill used to pray for all their nieces and nephews by name. Every day. Every. day. Since Bob's Mom died, or maybe before that, Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill adopted the nieces and nephews spiritually, and prayed for them. Now those nieces and nephews are grandparents. What a wonderful spiritual heritage. What a wonderful example Uncle Bill has given us. Please help us to be so faithful. In Jesus name. Amen.

Lists added in the comments section. What a clan!