This letter is to my family, my Pastor, Mt. Sinai family, my close friends, and to any and everybody who is or have cared for an elderly loved one or elderly friend.

I present this letter of thanksgiving to you, filled with gratitude from the bottom of my heart. First, I'd like to thank everyone for his or her prayers for my family, me, and my Uncle. As you continue keeping us in your prayers this very day, over the past months, and the past years, blessings have been bestowed upon us in a gracious, mighty and profound way.

My Uncle who moved in with me is my Mother’s eldest brother, and an Uncle I have always been very fond of, in light of the times spent family gathering during the holiday was the legist of it, my uncle has always been very kind and loving to me.  This unexpected call of duty has required much patienence, strength and endurance considering the many challenges and circumstance I have had to face in the interim upon committing. I must say, I am now extremely honored.

It hasn't been easy at at all especially at the beginning.  I was very distraught, frustrated, mad, and confused.  I had my fears and doubts in my ability to sustain such responsibility.  I feared of not doing things right or knowing if I really could do it, but God knew!  God has shown me, that I am able to do anything I want to do, especially, when I depend on him for my help. Which I have done, and still to this day more than I have ever in my life before, the revelations of God has been unexplantory but never to be denied. 

My Uncle, as well as family members and myself, have truly been blessed.  Since I have committed to the full-time responsibility of caring for him, God has allowed me the blessing to see His prevailing grace upon both my Uncle and me. Through every challenge and every difficulty, God has bestowed upon me strength in more ways than I could have imagined, nor could I convey.

Since December 01, 2014, my Uncle and I have been living together at the suggestion from his Doctor, he no longer lives alone, my first acknwledgement of being informed, so the request made for him to move from his home in with me.

During this time, not only have I had the chance, but the pleasure of sharing my faith to my Uncle, not that he was oblivious to it, but about my relationship with God, now more than I was able before.  Sharing God's word, my testimony, and experiences in my life, which led me to Christ.  Again I say, I can’t begin to tell everyone how God is moving and blessing us and my family through the risen circumstances that have affected many.

Here's an example of what one of the blessings look like: One day, one of our assistant Pastors from Mt Sinai church, Pastor Cartheren, a dear loving brother in Christ, was the responding Pastor of the month. When he received my call, he immediately responded humbly to my request. I ask him for prayer for my Uncle prior to him going into the hospital for surgery. Not just for his recovery and healing, but his salvation.  Pastor Cartheren, at the last minute, graciously took the time to drive miles on an evening, after leaving his job on February 9th, 2015,  to come to our home, and bless my family, by sitting down sharing the word with my Uncle, praying and partaking in communion with both him and me.  I am so filled with gratitude and thanksgiving to God for the love and support we have received from certain member of our immediate family and the bulk for our support from our Church, Mt Sinai and it's members, Act's Care Givers Inc. Care givers Sopport group, and the amazing doctors, nurses and medical Pallitive/Hospice team have been the best spport to me and my uncle it unbeleivable.  This is what our experience has been. I give God all the glory for it all! Yes, indeed! Under my care had two surgeries on top of four prior to the two, and they were all successful.

The most recent and last surgery my Uncle had was a surgery that needed to take place. If he hadn’t had this surgery, my Uncle would have been paralyzed for the rest of his life. God is good and merciful!  

Yes! God, uses whom he pleases to bless others. And with in the past three years later, my Uncle had another surgery to prevent him from having to get his toe cut off, and again, God intervened and the foot was healing. The consistent follow-ups with the doctors observing him and the many more surgeries and hospital emergencies visit, and stays have been plenty frightening, but he's still here God mercy and grace has kept him. It is tall do to Gods glory.

I love the Lord, trust, and know that He is working and moving things in the order He pleases.  I do not worry, because I know things are always changing and are most of the time when it comes to aging it is out of our control.  So I surrender, by holding steadfast to the word of God, with confidence, patience’s, faith, and trust in the Lord.  When we lift our burdens and one another to God in prayer, we must believe and know, the promise has been fulfilled.

Many times I am absent from participating in family,  friend gatherings, and  church,  engagements and many extended invites to events and such, but know that my intentions are good but our situation is difficult, challenging and many time complicated more than not and I am not always so freely relieved from the duties and care of my Uncle as other may want me. And he's not always having the best of days, but still in good spirits through it all God has not taken away his smile and the few words he still can speak of apprecaition for the care he receives. 

My Uncle is now 85 years old, and he is no way  capable of fending for himself.  The complications and physical challenges he bare is beyond words  his care is mot intensafied and requires around the clock assistance and support.   I tell you, those who do not know, caregiving is not easy at all, and not everybody can and is willing to do it, even with hired help.  It requires managing what ever help you receive and that's work too. Remember, hired hands are paid hands, and they are to be trusted, meet the requirements as expected, with honest care and love, but that is not always what you are going to receive, it take some sifting and manuver. You just can't trust any and everyone when it come to caring for your loved ones.  

So please, be patient with me, considering my absence, commitments, my physical church attendance, my ministry within the church, the blessing of spending quality time outside of my home with family and friends. 

Many things have taken place in order I create, keep, balance and structure for the both of us, so that we both are reassured, comfort, contenment,  and all that is respectfully honored in this long-term commitment. 

I haven’t any doubts with regards to what God is doing in both mine and my Uncle’s life. I am grateful that the worthy call has been granted me. It has truly opened my eyes and is blessing me and my family in many ways.  Love requires true commitment and sacrifice-and God knows exactly what we all need, and the intent of everymans heart. I am at peace with it all and I am by god grace still standing.

Thank you all for your love and support,  through your patience, prayers, visits, and invites to both me and my Uncle Bones. Your contribution to our lives has truly made a profound difference. The juggle is hard, but God's mercy and grace are greater, and He gives me strength when needed.  Please keep us in your prayers still, because we need them, and I will do the same for you. 

Oh by the way!  In case you didn't know it.  I pray for you all!

I love you. Many blessings

Madelyn D. Commodore (aka Miss Mac)