“My grace is sufficient for you; my
power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
As
my mother’s Alzheimer’s disease progressed, my sister and I became care-givers
for her. As mom’s memory began to shift from the present to the past, I learned
many new things about my parent’s life together. I also began to realize our memory is truly a gift.
Mom
was one of 8 children and when she was in the 10th grade her mother
became ill. She left school to
care for her and was never able to return. She grew up to be one the smartest and most creative people
I have ever known. She was never
afraid of a challenge. She learned
to drive at the age of 50. She
took a creative writing class at UTC when she was 65, and wrote many short
stories and poems that were worthy of publication. She and dad took dancing lessons and were beautiful to watch
when they were on the dance floor.
She was one of the first people to sign up for ice skating lessons when
Chattanooga built an ice skating rink.
She had the gift of hospitality.
If you came to her house, you had to eat something and it was always home-made. She was an accomplished
seamstress. She could look at
something, come home and make it without a pattern. She also taught a children’s Sunday School Class. As the disease progressed and we watched
her slip farther into the mindless darkness of Alzheimer’s, she would tell my
sister and me many of the Bible stories she had shared with her Sunday
Kids.
As
we witnessed the ravages of this terrible disease, the most prominent and
consistent memories that remained were the stories from the Bible. She also kept her wonderful sense of
humor and she could still make us laugh up to the final week of her life.
Sometimes
a care-giver needs a care-giver.
God promises to never leave us or forsake us. His word is true and He was there with His peace that passes
all understanding. The Lord gave us strength, abilities, and understanding
beyond what we could have ever imagined.
He provided us with a closeness of family and friends that remains
today. God’s mercy overshadows the
unbearable pain that my family faced as we watched her struggle to hold on to
her memory and her life.
Every
day that we have with someone we love is a gift. It is precious and never to be taken for granted. When we talk about mother our memories
are beautiful.
For
those that are walking a similar path with a loved one, there will be days of
recognition and days of desperation.
Do not fear! God is there
and He will give you grace sufficient for each day. No two days will be alike, meet your loved one where they
are. They still have much to give
and the Lord is walking with you.
His promise is true. He
will never leave you.
My
mom is in His presence now and “I Can Only Imagine”.
Jeanette Walker
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