Posted 11-25-19
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. –Romans 8:28
I hope you all had as good of a weekend as I did, although it, like most, went by awfully fast. Mom had a good weekend too, getting visits from both of my siblings and, of course, my stepdad many times. Sunday, at our family thanksgiving meal, we were treated with a surprise (timing-wise) wedding just before we ate. My sister-in-law and now brother-in-law were wed with a relative officiating. Very pretty, romantic and overall just cool!
So, my thought today for your consideration has the possibility of being annoying, but that is not the intent. It is also not my intent to make mom’s situation more than it is, but only to make one simple point: God’s plan “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” is a much bigger and more impressive promise than we could dream.
So, how could this be annoying? I was thinking about Jesus on cross. Why did the members of the Trinity choose this terrible method of execution? I mean, they could have gotten the job done just fine with something less public and far less gruesome...but that is what they chose from the foundation of the world. There are likely 10,000 reasons they chose it, not the least of which is to make clear their opinion of sin and the extent to which it will be punished.
But I was thinking specifically of the verse John 19:26-27, and other verses, of Mary or of others gazing up at Christ while He was still on the cross, slowly dying. The mockers mocked. The mourners mourned. In indifferent took notice if only to see what was up with the crowd. The deniers…well, they waited and watched, keeping themselves busy with, perhaps, a defense of the flat Earth? Everyone was waiting and gathering information, to see what happened, but everyone also knew the end result of the cross. Nobody escaped it. It wasn’t being whipped 39 times. It was final…until it wasn’t. Jesus was raised and we all have salvation’s blessing placed at our feet for the taking, should we have eyes to see and ears to hear.
So, what does this beautiful and ugly situation have to do with mom? Bring good from bad is the basis of why I can deal with writing about dementia every weekday. Mom is an advocate…she always has been. She would completely approve of me requesting folks “behold” her current state if somehow good could come from it…and perhaps even a cure. It is hard, though. Do you think the disciples used the same zeal in bringing non-believers to the cross and saying “Behold” as they did when He was walking with them and doing miracles? Andrew was so excited when he first found Christ than he seemingly sprinted to his brother to tell him. Nobody was running with Him on the Cross…unless it was away from there.
Faith teetered. It tottered. It stretched the thin, golden thread…but was redeemed 3 days later…but first the spectacle.
It is super hard to bring people the first time to see mom who have not seen her in years. It is sad, it is awkward/embarrassing and it is emotional. Heck, it is hard enough to post the social media pictures of memories of last year compared to right now. Mom is hard to look at…if you just look at the oyster that she is now compared to the pearl that you will see if you just wait. It is worth it to tell her story, to (respectfully) show her to friends and family, and the like if good can be made from it to God’s glory. Nobody escapes Dementia alive either…so far. However, we know how the story ends. It softens the blow knowing that someday we will be able to see mom again but even better than before. 🙂 Please help me to continue to make good come from her and her friends’ situation.
This will be a short week on the blog. I will be taking the holiday off and Black Friday off, but will return next week. I hope this piece made sense to everyone who read it as much as my ramblings ever make sense. 😉
#EndALZ #EndAlzheimers #Walk2EndAlz #AlzAssociation #GoPurple #Dementia
I love this site as I am going through this with my husband, he no longer eats by himself, is wheelchair bound, can not do anything for himself. I understand your journey with your Mom. Prayers for all of us.
Praying for you guys too. So hard. 🙁
Beautifully written. It is my first visit here and it certainly will not be my last.
Beautifully written. It is my first visit here and it certainly will not be my last. God bless.
Thank you very much! 🙂