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Dr. Jimmy Braswell/ Home Hospice Chaplain

An ancient Christian mystic, St. Augustine, wrote “Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee.”

It seems that all love, hope, meaning and goodness are found in a relationship with God. In order to understand anything, it is best to receive instructions from the maker of the thing or product. God created us and He created our unique ability to love. To understand love, we must understand Him. Jesus was asked about that “one thing” and He said, to find the “one thing” we are to love God and parallel that to loving each other as we love ourselves. That means to love with respect, understanding and interest. When we love God and others like that everything seems to fall into place and take on great meaning. Do you need direction, purpose, reason, “the one thing”? Then seek out God in your heart and love others as best you can. Look for Him and you will find Him in the experiences of life, along the journey, and in the eyes of others. All other things and choices blur compared with that “one thing” of loving God. Try it, you’ll like it.

She was a close friend I had known for many years when she came to Home Hospice. Her favorite song was “Sentimental Journey.” In her younger years, she sang with a band and this was her signature song. Her voice, once clear and beautiful had become gravelly from years of smoking. She loved to tell about her days singing and her family loved hearing her tell those stories. When she was no longer alert and awake some of her family backed away, afraid of the end. Her “journey” was almost ended, but their journey without her was just beginning. How would they be able to carry on? Caring for struggling families requires hope, confidence and courage. Sometimes, just a word is all that is needed. Sometimes, no words are needed; just a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on.

As a hospice worker you learn how and when to provide that support. However, when the journey becomes your own you learn who you can lean on. Some days the memories come flooding back vividly. On our first date in February 1971, we saw the move “Love Story” and the words of that theme song seem urgent at times: “Where do you begin to tell the story of how great a love can be…” For forty-five years we lived that love story; including her dying in the hospital. Our journey and the aftermath of that journey have really been sentimental for me. Who props me up? Whose shoulder do I cry on? I am blessed to have three families. The first is made up of relatives; children, sisters, and in-laws. These have been constant support. Then, there is the church family with whom I meet regularly. They too are always there; following-up with me in so many ways over the past two and one-half years to ensure I do not feel alone. There are also those in the office where I work with whom I consider family. Perhaps better than the other families, they have an understanding of what my journey has been so far, and what it continues to be. Here are those I can counsel with and in return be counseled. I don’t know that any of us really anticipate taking such a sentimental journey, but there it is. Christmas day will always be the half-year anniversary of the loss of my wife. Fortunately, I am not alone. What comfort I have knowing who those are that I can count on.

A time when the more than 4,000 hospices across the U.S. hope to increase awareness of this completely under-utilized plan of care. Most recent National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports show a third of hospice patients are receiving the help they deserve for a week or less, more than 50% for less than one month. That means the majority of people, facing difficult medical decisions and care, are doing so alone or at least without every resource available.

For more than a decade

I have seen Home Hospice team members tend to the gardens of our patients’ souls, from the dedicated medical professionals to those providing spiritual, emotional and social support. It is love in action. There is a thank you note pinned to a bulletin board in our break room which offers proof: “To all who had the joy of serving my Daddy. I thank you for all the hands, visits and the love I know you showed him.”

I have often been asked, “Is there a scarlet thread through the Bible? – a focus of continuity in life?”

Yes – The Cross and Sacrifice of Jesus – that is the scarlet thread through the Bible. Through the Cross there is a reason for everything – all things do work together for good.

• Through Adam and Eve’s sin – you could see a cross.
• Through Cain killing Able – you could see a cross.
• Through the world destroyed by flood – you could see a cross.
• Through Abraham offering Isaac – you could see a cross.
• Through Moses’ striking the stone and denial of the promise land – you could see a cross.
• Through David’s murder of Urriah and sin with Bathsheba – you could see a cross.

Through every ordeal, sin, failure, disappointment, disease, and death; you can see a cross. It’s the scarlet thread through all history, especially “His story” – There is forgiveness for sin, opportunity through crisis, hope in discouragement always.

God can use anything and everything to accomplish his purpose. Even evil (or what appears to be) can be used for goodness and glory. God can take ego, competition, and lust and use it for His glory when it is overshadowed by the cross.

A stroke, a heart attack, a tragedy, a mistake, and yes, even a death, can be used by God to accomplish great glory – the illustration of this is the horror and glory of the cross and the death of Jesus Christ for our sins.
When things are tough, the weather foul, the experience boring or the prospect dim – wait in God – He does all things beautiful in His time and “His Story”.

Chaplain Dr. Jimmy Braswell
Home Hospice

“Listen! The wind is rising and the air is filled with leaves. We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!”
– Humbert Wolfe

Having been a part of this hospice mission for more than a decade you get to witness the milestones of each season through a different set of eyes. Will this be a joyous season of hope, or one filled with sadness and loss? My heart is filled with the determination to reach out to the patients and families we serve, to let them hold onto a piece of the world’s traditions – to let them know “It’s about living.”

Our volunteers find themselves decorating Christmas trees in July, or making St. Patrick’s Day cards in September. It’s a wonder any of us have our days straight. But it’s all worth it… especially on days like today.

Our nurse Myra bustled into the office this morning to relay a message, “I have to tell you our little patient was so thankful your volunteers stopped by with he harvest bag of goodies this week! They just loved that someone took the time to paint the little face, and fill it with goodies… they have it hanging on their door as a Halloween decoration!”

I thank God for the opportunity to guide our volunteer team through this journey, and the ability to reach those whom we serve as whole beings, needing emotional, social and spiritual connection, alongside our dedicated team of professionals providing gold-standard medical care.

The seasons change… what a joy to be able to appreciate the new colors of the leaves.

Karen Carter
Community Relations/Volunteer Coordinator
Home Hospice

“That’s the reason I am here, in this moment…” I call them God things. And when they happen I am humbled, and I share the story with whoever is willing to listen. Surely this happens to you?

My close friends call me “Martha” because I attempt cooking, baking & crafts, mostly because I enjoy creating something out of nothing, and the joy of giving. I am fortunate enough to be able to funnel some of this energy towards the work I do for Home Hospice… our patients and families, our volunteers, and sometimes for complete strangers in the community.

During the recent Permian Basin Health Fair it happened again… a solid reinforcement of understanding why we do the work we do. Our team had been set up to break down barriers about hospice by connecting with people, dispelling myths, and offering hugs of encouragement, hope and support. And we set up a Pinterest-inspired carnival-like target game in order to get people to stop for a moment to visit with us. There had been a steady flow of event participants – a busy morning for sure.

When we drew the name of our prize-winner and placed the phone call to her, she was so excited. She said she would be back to claim her prize within ten minutes, and hung up the phone. When she arrived we instantly remembered her playing the game. It was obvious she had had some recent challenges. (At the very least because her leg was in a medical boot.) When she accepted our gift, she began to cry. She said, “You have no idea how I needed one thing to go right.”

You have no idea how I needed ONE THING to go right.

What a blessing to have been a part of that moment… a conduit for His message of loving one another.

I am humbled, as always.

Karen Fowler
Community Relations/Volunteer Coordinator
Home Hospice

To know one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
– Leo Buscaglia

Having spent time recently as a hospital patient, I am humbled. What an intense reminder of the impact we make in peoples’ lives every day. I had the privilege of visiting with one of the cleaning staff members, while waiting in a hallway in the basement of the hospital – thanking her for the 20+ years of backbreaking service she had provided, reminding her that if she was not willing to do her best every day, none of us would be safe.

14 years with Home Hospice has taught me well… completely understanding that EVERY team member plays a vital role in caring for our patients. And, there is a very special place in my heart for our volunteers!

We are all just walking each other home, and I am grateful every step of the way!

Karen Carter
Community Relations – Volunteer Coordinator/ Home Hospice

By Jimmy Braswell
One of my favorite memories of growing up in Odessa was seeing a man (middle aged then) running around the city of Odessa. He inspired me to start running every day. He would pass by our house at the end of the block off University Blvd. every evening about the same time. I didn’t know him then, but I came to understand He was Dick Brown. I admired his endurance and persistence. That has continued through my life. I learned he was a leading layman at Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord, the Sunday School teacher of several of my friends through the years, and eventually a co-chaplain at Home Hospice … the Icon of Chaplaincy at the Hospice House. He had worked with my father-in-law at Sears, who also admired him and shared coffee breaks and discussions in hardware. While a chaplain, he and I began a long friendship with series of theological discussions, lunches, and fellowship that were highlights of my work at Hospice. He taught me about God, living real life, marriage and family, and how to love people. Memorial Day brings a time of the year to remember — to remember those who have served our country — like the new memorial to the Medal of Honor Recipients at Sunset Cemetery (you need to go see it and read their stories) —to remember those friends and family who have died this year and years past — and Father’s Day is a day to remember those who have been like father’s to us -Today, I remember Richard M. (Dick) Brown and his gift of service to God and Odessa. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gifts.

A mother’s unconditional love can’t be replaced. As their children, let us show them our appreciation of the love and the priceless sacrifice they have made every day since our birth. At this moment we may be making our dreams come true, facing and growing in our adult lives, but we are all getting older every day.

Many people long to have a mother’s love. Let’s be thankful that we have a mother who is always with us along the way. Respect them at all times. Be with her not only in the worst part, but also in our happiest moments – the best times of our lives.

As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, greet and honor your mother for her contributions to your life. And, if your mother is no longer around – remember her in your hearts.

May God bless our mothers.
Donnie Rollie, Chaplain

By Dr. Jimmy Braswell
Chaplain — Home Hospice of Odessa

Sitting in a seminary Christian Ethics class, the professor asked us when the Bible became authoritative to us. A variety of answers and then I answered with what resulted in, seemed to be silencing of the class. “The Bible didn’t become authoritative to me until I experienced it.” Perhaps it was too spiritual an answer, affective instead of cognitive, liberal instead of conservative, emotional instead of stoic. But it was my answer. I still believe it. As important as the Bible is to me the experience of its truth in my life is more important. When the Kingdom comes there will be none and no need of Bibles The Living Word will be with us in flesh.

I attended a writer’s conference after seminary. I learned that I was really not compelled to write; I wanted to “have written”. I wanted a book under my belt, another piece of my resume. I wanted to be an author. I’ve never to date published a book. I’ve written a great deal and encourage others to “journal” their journey. But what I am more interested in than the inspiration I receive from reading (and know that reading is profoundly important and valuable) is the journey that leads to writing. That is profoundly personal. I am more interested in the journey that leads to writing and every author, every person must “experience” the book before they write it. it may be that we spend more time immolating what we’ve read than experiencing where, what, why, and how we are going through right now. Violet says to George Bailey in “It’s A Wonderful Life” — “Don’t you ever get tired of just reading about things?”

Reading is vitally important, especially the Bible, but that reading needs to be a supplement to our experiencing God in our own journey of life and writing “without paper” a journey with Him through a unique and never to be repeated life. LIVE!! — That’s what Easter is about — really living —

Home Hospice has a motto — “To live until God sees fit to call us home.” Live — really live — that’s the message of the “Resurrection and Easter.”