Dear Quiet

…

I was starting to sleep well, now I find myself with that foggy, groggy feeling today. I didn’t get much sleep last night. My mom texted me that my stepfather is not doing well.

The situation is not as simple as traveling to visit, sending flowers, or giving them a call. I have lived away from them for most of my life.

Our home life growing up was dysfunctional to say the least. My stepfather was a hard man to get along with, a critical, cruel person without much capacity for empathy.

By the age of sixteen, my nervous system was shot, the situation escalated, and I left home. I found peace away from him for the first time in my life. Living alone at such a young age was hard, but man, did I have peace.

I’ll admit that I hated him for many years, until I found Christ. When the Holy Spirit came to live in me, I forgave everything and moved on.

We have been in touch, loosely, for the past decade or so, but never on speaking terms (I mostly keep in touch with my mom). I haven’t spoken to him in 12+ years, and I’m sure by now he would be more upset to hear from me than relieved.

Unsure of what to do, I’m doing nothing. I’m letting it happen as peacefully as possible by staying out of it.

I’m in contact with my mom. She says his lung has collapsed, is having several heart issues, and the doctors say he’s not going to recover (my stepfather is 86 years old).

If anyone would like to pray for him, I’d be very thankful. I’ve been praying that he’s not scared or in a lot of pain. I’m praying for my mother as well during this difficult time.

I’ve also been praying for guidance. I don’t know what to do, or if there’s much that I could do.

Well, thank you for reading. I’ve been battling insomnia, trying to get through my days as best as possible, all while taking care of my son as well. So, I just had to let this out.

Take care,
Dear Quiet

signal/log: 1.16.2026
heart.status = sad + confused
installing: deep_breaths