The Freedom of Faithfulness Over Responsibility

Releasing the Outcome to God

By Debbie W. Wilson

God blessed me with a godly and kind mother-in-law. When her independence began to wane, Larry and I invited her to live with us. Having lived hundreds and then thousands of miles apart, we sincerely welcomed the opportunity to have her in our home. However, she wouldn’t consider leaving Arizona.

Larry sent monthly checks to help her fill the gap in her living expenses, but we didn’t know what we’d do when she required full-time care. Our ministry income wouldn’t stretch to cover that expense.

Larry and I felt a level of responsibility to ensure Grandma was well taken care of in her waning years. Perhaps because our visits were spread out, we recognized her decline better than she. When she refused our offer of a place in our home, we didn’t know how to fulfill our duty and desire to help her. God used this incidence to help us learn the difference between being faithful and being responsible.