If anybody told me that one day I would be my grandfather’s “nurse”, I would first laugh at such an unlikely scenario, and then shudder at how horrible that would be.
My grandfather used to be a confident and capable man. He was an engineer who helped build the impossible during World War II in China and in the early days of Taiwan’s developing economy, a man who once he set his mind on something, woe to you if you tried to change it.
At first I hated it when my father forced me to be my grandfather’s roommate: he slept on the bottom of a bunk bed, I on the top. It was always too hot, and my grandfather would wake me up early in the morning to exercise with him.
As the years have taken a toll on his health, and my role has grown ever more demanding, to my surprise, my joy has been slowly growing. True, I have to wake up multiple times during the night to take my grandfather to the bathroom, I help change his diaper, I help feed him, but God has never made the task more than I can bear.
Jesus told us, “…He that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). I am by no means an example of a perfect servant, but I thank God that because of my grandfather, I have become a much better one.
I will treasure this time with him for the rest of my life.
You are my hero. Thank you…
I’m proud of you, Timbo. You are a REAL man.
Dude…that’s awesome. God DOES give us what we need when we need it!