Recently I went on a cruise, my first ever, to the Bahamas with a few family members -Elder Frank and I, two of his sisters and their husbands, my father, and my mother-in-law. Since my father and my mother-in-law could not share one bedroom, and since we were too cheap to put them separately in their own rooms, Elder Frank and I decided to ‘sacrifice’ by each sharing the room with the parent-in-law: I with my mother-in-law and Elder Frank with his father-in-law. The biggest concern we had for the cruise, besides how to avoid gaining too much weight from non-stop eating, was for the safety and well-being of our elderly parents. We’ve heard horror stories about elderly parents falling on the slippery deck and being confined to bed or getting ill during the cruise and incurring high medical bills for a mediocre treatment at a foreign hospital .
So even though Elder Frank “suffered” from a week-long sleep-deprivation (you don’t understand how loud my father’s snoring is!) and I had to endure being woken up at 3 AM every morning (yes, my godly mother-in-law kept up her daily morning prayer routine even on the cruise ship, certainly more faithful than her pastor daughter-in-law!), we were both so thankful that our parents remained healthy, ate well, and overall enjoyed the time they got to spend with their children. Our only regret was that we hadn’t done it sooner when both sets of parents were still alive. We saw many elderly couples on the cruise, holding hands, talking, and eating together, and generally enjoying each other’s company. Though neither of our parents verbalized it, probably not to make their children feel sad, I could sense that they each had some regrets for enjoying the cruise alone. Sure my husband and I had talked about taking our parents on a cruise and had every intention to do that someday, but we were too caught up in the busyness of life and it never materialized until now. This was truly the case of “the tyranny of the urgent.”
Part of the problem was that our parents did not demand attention or express disappointments ever. They said they understood how busy we were raising our family and doing ministry for the Lord. And we thought once our kids grew up, we would have more time for our parents. It turned out to be true, but by then it was too late. I want to encourage all of you whose parents are still living to take the time now to express how much you love and appreciate them through words and actions. Your parents may be gone sooner than you anticipate. I wouldn’t want anyone to have the same regrets as I do.
And one benefit from being on this cruise was that the truth, “we are in the world, but not of the world,” was solidified. All the activities the majority of the people were enjoying - drinking, dancing, singing karaoke, gambling, partying, shopping, enjoying comedies, etc. - were not enjoyable to me (okay, I confess. I did gamble once: I played Bingo and wasted $20). So if I could, I would like to go on a Christian cruise (is there such a thing?) next time. It would be awesome to have teaching sessions throughout the day and have evening worship with renowned worship bands and speakers. Only then not only my physical hunger, but also my spiritual hunger will be satisfied to my heart’s content. Now that would be my dream come true!
From Pastor Sara’s Heart
October 27, 2013