If It Were Just Dad: Finding Hope in the Midst of a Tempest

"Deep in the woods, when I would encounter another steep incline, not knowing where it went, I prayed, 'Lord, please help me find my way.' As He always has, God gave me the strength, that 'extra gear' to keep going when I thought about turning back. I was reminded that this was also a vivid metaphor for the past several years. God has given me the wisdom, strength, and guidance I needed along the way. And I sensed that He had a blessing waiting for me if I would keep going and not give up."

Join author Robert Jones, in his third publication, as he describes the blessings and the challenges of acting as caregiver for both of his aging parents. With the Lord, and his wife by his side, Bob takes on the long and arduous journey of finishing well and honoring mother and father.

Have you reached the point in life where you are completely overwhelmed? When you just cry out, "It's too much! If it were just..."? You are not alone. I urge you to make the time to take a walk with Bob. His conversational style invites you to come along side as he relates a most personal journey. You will be encouraged. At times it is joyous, and at others, heartbreaking. "The reality is, there are things in life we cannot control, perhaps most things." But there is hope in the midst of the storms of life. His name is Jesus.

Rev. William H. Cook is co-host of the Adventure Pals radio show and Senior Pastor of Creek Road Bible Church in Bellmawr, NJ.

In his book "If it Were Just Dad", Bob has written a realistic and challenging saga of walking through the issues of dealing with aging parents, most of it while living five hours away from them. He presents the joys and heartaches of caring for them through latter years of their lives as they were dealing with physical issues and dementia. He watched his father change from a strong decisive and creative personality to one who was now dependent on others to care for him in his weakness and loss of mental acuity. He watched his mother try to care for things at home and a small farm for which she was no longer able to perform because of her aging body and mind.

Many were the calls and texts that needed immediate attention for which he had to make the five-hour drive to take care of medical emergencies, tasks that could no longer be done by his parents, and critical decisions that had to be made. Bob deals with these challenges by driving immediately the distance and/or asking for help from good friends and neighbors of his parents. Bob found great help and encouragement through prayer to God and from the many passages of Scripture that he shares at the beginning of each chapter and throughout the book.

The book closes with his parents moving close to his home where he can be more readily available. Over this period his father's issues become worse which attributed to his death. His mother is still living with limited ambulatory and continued dementia. Bob uses a word near the end of the book that best describes his life with aging and declining parents; the word was "unpredictable." I recommend the book to be read by those dealing with aging parents.

Ron Cook, friend and former pastor

Bob's book is saturated with Scripture! God's Word is always comforting, encouraging, and uplifting. But it is also used for correction, re-direction, and re-adjusting our thoughts and attitudes. Bob shares very candidly about how God walked him and his family through struggles with aging parents. His book is poignant, respectful, and insightful. It is also tough to put down!
Despite all the storms Bob and his family were experiencing, I love that he recognized the blessings that God incorporated into his experience.

Vaughn and Tamy Cook, friends from King Street Church