Helping elderly mother deal with fear (changed thread title)

My mother is very afraid of the possibilities in this new health care reform bill that is being worked on by the president and congress. Her doctor told her she needed to write letters to her congress men and senators because if it passes he is concerned for the elderly and the kind of care that they would receive. She went home and read the entire bill that they have first and said that what she read really has scared her. I shared with her some scripture to try and comfort her and offered her prayer. She lives pretty far away from me, was thinking and praying about if I should try to find a way to move her near me. She is by herself where she is at? I was wondering if any others here have felt this concern that she is going through and if you might share some of the things that have given you comfort that I may pass them along to her???

With care
rdg

Tell her to trust in the LORD. For only in Him will we have the strength to face the coming days. All other systems will fail.

Our Lord is perfectly capable of caring for His own.

Thank you heart song for your post. yes I have reminded her to put her faith in the Lord. I agree men will always fail you so will government, we must trust in the Lord. She wants to write letters to her representatives and wants everyone in the family and friends to do the same? Not sure how this sits with me, I have never really involved myself in the goings on of government, rather always looked to be about the Lords will for His kingdom? Wondering if I should be looking into this more now that so much is going on for the negative??? Anyway thanks

with care
rdg

My mother is very afraid of the possiblities in this new health care reform bill that is being worked on by the president and congress. Her doctor told her she needed to write letters to her congress men and senators because if it passes he is concerned for the elderly and the kind of care that they would receive. She went home and read the entire bill that they have first and said that what she read really has scared her.

In fact, I would eschew these topics altogether when bringing them into the community of God. All they really do, I have seen, is divert our gaze from eternal prospects and put them on the corrupt engineerings of man. Our wellness is not contingent on healthcare reform, bull or bear markets, foiled ponzi schemes, real estate blowouts or the value of the dollar versus the yen. If we even for a moment preoccupy ourselves with any of the above, we immediately forfeit our peace and joy in God. It's a long downward slope that lands you back in the dunghill of man's kingdom. The things of earth become strangely [i]bright[/i] again.

Once the ball gets rolling in this direction, there is no stopping the fear-mongering and speculation that can arise....especially in today's society where there is a million and one legitimate reasons to panic once our eyes are taken off Jesus.

Sorry for posting this here. It was never my intention to start anything with anyone, and defiantly not to cause fear. I really was only wanting to seek out some advice on what might be good to share with my elderly mother. I understand of course she needs to keep her focus on Jesus we all do, I was more thinking that perhaps there were some teaching to share with her that others might know about. Or even some of the older brothers and sisters that come may have some things to share in what the Lord has been showing them in these times as well as times past that He carried them through. My mother has not been a christian for long so she at times needs reassures and help understanding at her age.

As I mention I have never involved myself in anything political, have not voted one way or the other ever so I was also looking at some practical christian perspective on if writing letters is something the Lord would really call us to be about?

Thank you for sharing what the Lord placed on your heart Paul. If this thread is a problem then I am more then happy to delete what I asked and seek council else where. I do not want to cause anyone to stumble or have issues. I will be more mindful in the future. No worries though:-)

With Care in Him
and much thanks
rdg

edit: Just thought that I might make clear that I never had nor do I have any interest in talking about the health care bill itself was just "really" more wanting to give encouragement to my mother during some times of struggle for her.(fear and worry) Maybe I was not clear about that in my other post, sorry am really working on what I write and how it might be interpreted by others. As Christians it is at times difficult to wade through all of this because it does affect us and yet we are to be about His Kingdom, I am still learning myself how to walk in this as a young christian myself.
thanks again

. . . was just "really" more wanting to give encouragement to my mother during some times of struggle for her.

Thank you DeepThinker for your reply but as I stated I was not interested in discussing the health care bill itself, but rather how to share Jesus with an elderly mother who is struggling with fear because of it. As for her doctor worry about loosing money or not I do not know what his motives or intentions were when he spoke with her(and I believe to assume and say one way or the other about his motives would be sin. He is not here to defend himself after all) I really just was hoping for some teachings to share with her, to point her towards Jesus. Heart song and Paul are correct when they shared that she needs to keep her focus on the Lord.

If you have some articles to share that would be really great, but please keep to the point of the thread.

with care in Him
rdg

Edit:after some prayer and thought decided to change the title of my thread to better get across what I was looking to discuss. Think this fits better. Thanks everyone.

One thing that I do when I tend towards fear is to think on all of the good things that the Lord has done for me - ways that He has shown forth His faithfulness and ability to provide. Some people keep a list so that they can review it during troubled times.
_________________

heart song that is a really good idea, I have done that myself. I will mention that to her as well. I was sharing with her some of Ginnyrose testimonies to, all the times she has been through with the Lord always being there for her. I think it has helped. I just kind of think that since she is new to being a christian she really needs to learn to trust in the Lord and what it means to walk by faith? Does that make sense?

with care in Him
rdg

The absolutely best thing to do is to get down on your face before Him and start praising Him - even in your fear - actually, necessarily, because of your fear. This brings forth riches untold.

:-)

Praying and giving thanks can be such an awesome time in the Lord. Just really walking and talking through all the wonderful things He has done for us:-)I know that my mother feels that since she is coming to the Lord late in life that she has wasted so much of her life living for self and not for the Lord, she regrets that. I know that as she is getting older(and been sick) this is on her heart. I have shared with her that is makes no difference that she has come to know Jesus as her Savior late in life, that her past is forgiven and what she needs to focus on is moving forward in Him no matter how much time she may or may not have left. Fear is just one tool the enemy tries to use against us, to cause us to take our focus off of Jesus and on to self or things happening around us. I have shared with her that when her friends become fearful to share with them about the Lord and what He has done for her. What an opportunity she has before her. I think she is beginning to see that to

thanks again
rdg

Been following this thread and have not seen anyone who has said they have read the bill that has upset the Mother. I read highlights of it and have to say, if it was not for my faith (which my God freely gives me each day) I would be in terror of it. Every action of this current administration is aimed at enslaving the population. Now I try and stay aware of what they are doing but not let it terrorize me. I pray and worship God through His Son Jesus and read the Word.

What I mean is, I live on this planet and just as I appreciate weather reports to allow me to prepare for coming storms, paying attention to the actions of our leaders is also a way to prepare for storms of a different kind.

It may have more effect when speaking with the mother to know what it is she is upset over before telling her to live by Faith. Not to say living by Faith is not to be desired. I know I am not putting this clear enough but I hope someone might see what I am saying.

Kind regards,
white stone

White_Stone: Yes I have read the large portions of the bill and while I do not agree with much of what is in the bill I do believe that pointing my mother back to Jesus in all things is the best answer. I have talked with my mother for many hours and I do understand why she is afraid but still feel that sharing Jesus with her and encouraging her to seek Him in this is the best thing.

with care in Him
rdg