Offending The Little Children
One of the most arresting statements ever made by Jesus during his sojourn on earth was concerning the offending of children. He said it would be better for one to have a millstone tied around his neck and be cast into the sea.

An old woman was noticed to be picking up something in the street — a poor slum street. The policeman on the beat noticed the woman^’s action and watched her very suspiciously. Several times he saw her stoop, pick up something, and hide it in her apron. Finally, he went up to her and with a gruff voice and threatening manner demanded, “What are you carrying off in your apron?” The timid woman did not answer at first, whereupon the officer, thinking that she must have found something valuable, threatened her with arrest. The woman opened her apron and revealed a handful of broken glass. “I just thought I would like to take it out of the way of the children’s feet,” she said. Oh, how we need people like this timid little woman who cared about what hurts “children’s feet.”

http://www.vscoc.org/Bulletinfdr/offending_the_little_children.htm

Pat - This was sent to us tonight.  His wife is being cared for by him at home with the help of Hospice. This is sobering as he sits near his loved one's death bed.  She has lived a good life and it brings him that "peace that passeth all understanding".  This lady helped place a baby in our home 38 years ago.  She was in a unique position being helpful to ones hoping to adopt a baby.  She knew that placing a baby with Christians gave the hope of heaven.  Love, Janelle Hastings   

Well, it is Monday night, May 5, 2008. Miz Beth and I had a pretty good weekend, all things considered. We have her "pain management", anxiety and sleep meds worked out pretty well. For a while, she had her nights and days mixed up but that is better now. She no longer gets out of bed but seems to be relatively satisfied there. Once in a while she can drink from a straw but most of the time I just hold the end of the straw and capture water and put it into her mouth. The nurse suggested crushing her pills and mixing them into Activia yogurt. This works but often I can put the pill on her tongue and then put water in her mouth with the straw and she will swallow it. Some of her pain meds are liquid or suppositories.  Beth knows everyone and really enjoys short visits. She remembers many things that we talk about. She will correct me real quick if I say something that is wrong. Her hearing is real good so don't try to "sneak" anything by her.  Yes, as I am sure you are wondering, she sometimes mentions dying. Our son Brad helped me with that one when I discussed her asking me if she was going to die. He said she had asked him the same thing. He told me that he had said to her that she would remember that she had been sick and in pain for many years now. She remembers that. He then told her that when it was time for her she would not have pain and she would be able to "see" real clearly. We continually reassure her that she has been a good wife, mother, grandmother and Christian. We remind her that she has been a good influence and caused many people to become Christians.  It is a real comfort to us to be able to say with confidence in "God's Word" that she will be with Jesus and those she has loved in this life. Love and the soul are the only things that can pass through the "valley of death".  It is that confidence that allows me to stay by her side through all this without being overcome with emotion. I have to be very patient with her when dealing with her "daily needs". Sometimes she doesn't understand the instructions to "swallow", do not spit it out. Some days she is really restless. Distinguishing between "pain" and "anxiety" and knowing which med is needed takes some of this patience.  She is resting well now (9:30 PM). She will wake up in a little while and it will take some time to get her back to sleep but then she will probably sleep late in the morning which gives me time to sleep also.  I realize I am going into a lot of detail. There is a method to this. As I have said, I can be by her side through all of this because of the confidence I have in her destiny. It is very hard to sit by a "death bed" of someone who you realize by God's Word that they are not in a "safe condition."  I am sending these e-mails to a lot of you. I ask you to stop and ask yourselves how it will be for those who love you if they need to sit by your "death bed"? That is just part of it. How hard will it be on you if your life is not "right with God" to hear the answer to your question, "Am I going to die?" from one who loves you.Will it be fair for them to give you "false hope"?  It is really hard for me to attend the funerals of people I know have not served "God" during their life and to hear a preacher stand up and give everyone "false hope" as to their destiny. Do they realize they are not changing the "destiny" of the deceased, but are misleading many who hear them?  I encourage all of us (yes, that includes me) to compare our lives to the Word of God and think about the time we may be where Miz Beth is now.  We know that many of you are praying for us and we appreciate that. It gives us strength just to know that you are out there. We do not know when nature will decide for Miz Beth to go "home" but we plan to keep her as comfortable as we can until that time. I think she has already fooled the doctor and nurses. I know that she is "tough" or she wouldn't have continued to fool them since September 15, 1996.  I will keep you all informed if my computer lets me. Either way, I hope to be with many of you and Miz Beth "over there".  Mr. Jim & Miz Beth Lamberth