I would have if I would have been home. I'm in the process of moving my dad to a hospice center. There are lots of things to do, relatives to call, etc. My wife and I just went through the hospice situation with her mother a few months ago, so I'm the one with "experience" in my family.
Hospice for my mother in law was at times exciting because everybody in her family knew where she was going. She was (and probably still is, come to think of it) the most awesome prayer warrior I've ever known. Her bible was filled with pictures and little pieces of paper with names on them between the pages. She would sit by the front window for most of the day and pray for people. She would see a neighbor walk in front of her house and start to pray for them. Incredible.
But my dad...I just don't know. He's a devout Catholic, so much so that he hardly spoke a word to me for more than 5 years after I was "born again" in 1995. I just hope he's not counting on his daily mass, indulgences, masses for the dead, and purgatory to get into heaven. I'll know more over the next few days if I get a chance to question him about what's going to happen when he leaves here.
Wow. I know that cannot be easy for you, in spite of your "experience". Once is enough, but twice, that gets to you.
However, I'm sure that you are using the stregnth God gave you to love him, serve him, honor him, in every way that you were taught.
I am assuming he did get over the shock of you stepping out of the Catholic faith. What is interesting is that you both serve the same God, the same Christ and are of the same baptism. But to a Catholic, it may seem like you did the same thing that Luther did. But Martin Luther did not leave the Catholic church nor did he denounce his loyalty to the church, he just wanted them to shape up and not destroy themselves. He loved the Catholic church so much that he staked his life on preserving them and leading them back to the basic principles that were given by Christ.
And you are living those principles. I hope you father will stay faithful. And you too.
I was busy today at 1100am EST (Aust), I think that is the time equivalent to 8pm EST(USA. I hope to remember next Wedensday Morning. I am taking 3 weeks of my long service leave so am available to join in the Chat hopefully.
Tevita
