God's Tough Love

I just returned from helping out my parents after my Mom's knee replacement surgery. It was...interesting. It was...overwhelming in a way I didn't expect. Once I got into a routine though it was fairly good. Sorta kinda.
I noticed my Mom started doing less after I'd been there. My Dad has Parkinson's and he mostly sat in his chair. Sleeping. Again, interesting. My brother, who is a paramedic/life safer came to check on things alot and finally told me...Mom's taking advantage of you. Hmmmmm... True, there are things my parents do need help with; however, not near as much as I'd thought. Her pain meds weren't "helping" and she wasn't eating. A quick phone call to the doctor should have remedied that. As for the eating, I realize she had no appetite but getting weaker from not eating or only eating a little isn't going to help in the old energy department.
I began to feel like Alice-Curiouser and Curiouser. So, I kicked in the prayers and began the tough love. Didn't work too well; however, God did open my eyes to what really needed to happen. The toughest love of all. I needed to leave. Helping themselves was the best medicine. It got them up and moving.
I stayed as long as I'd planned and then came home. I called after my Mom's appointment and guess what? New pain meds and she was eating. She sounded like a new person. Yes, I could repeat my mantra of "curiouser and curiouser". Instead, I'd like to just thank God for once again leading me in the direction I needed to go. I guess God tough loved me into seeing what I needed to do just like I was trying to do with my Mom. He's pretty cool that way.