My parents are soon to be eighty and seventy-nine years of age. Their home which they dearly love is becoming more than they can safely manage, and they have decided to sell it and move to more accommodating housing. Because of a life spent in active ministry, this is the first home they have owned in over fifty years. They have lived in this home longer than any other place they have lived together. They are resigned, and yet often sad.

My role in all of this, and the role of my siblings, is to get the layers of time, dust, and memory organized enough that strangers can walk through the house. It is very difficult, because neither of my folks really wants this to be happening, and neither is really ready to allow us to "pack away" things, or do any kind of truly efficient decluttering or staging.

All this hubbub takes a toll on all of us, my dearest mother most of all.

God grant her peace, give me "wonder woman" like energy, and help me use only words which heal and never words that hurt. Amen.