I  have many friends these days dealing with hard parent issues--when to take away driving privileges, where/where to change living situations, power of attorney forms, decisions regarding hired help for a parent, is it time for hospice yet, this list goes on and on.  It may seem like you are walking the path alone--especially you only children out there. I keep thinking of a great and famous psalm in which to cling to and perhaps memorize:
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.  (see complete Psalm 23 below!)
The rod and staff refer to the analogy that we are the sheep and that HE is the shepherd. The rod and staff keep the sheep on track-they are instruments to reel them back in when they wander.  I understand that sheep are not smart animals. The cannot find their way alone, not find food or water, not able to distinguish safety from danger.  They need a shepherd to protect and defend them.  He never leaves them alone; He walks alongside them in all situations, by waters for refreshment, near meadows for rest; he even leads then when they have to walk in the darkness.  There is no need to fear evil because he protects them.  We have a heavenly shepherd able to do the same for us.  Even though it feels like we are alone in this journey, we have a good shepherd to walk through with us.  And we have others that we can ask to pray for us when we are having the hard time and we can do the praying when someone else is having the hard time.  Sometimes it feels as though we cannot fix a situation--many times we cannot... but no matter the struggle, we can pray to Him and rely on his word to give us strength.


Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walkthrough the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
-Psalms 23:1-6 (NIV84)