Posted 11-27-19
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
-Psalm 107:8-9
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+107%3A8-9&version=ESV
<RoboCall Voice> “May I have your attention please? The National Weather Service has issued a “Pot calling the kettle black warning! Take shelter immediately!”
I was thinking about how ungrateful we are as a culture these days. Being thankful is pretty much a cliche. I mean, we start decorating a month early for “What-are-they-gonna-get-me-s’muss” only to take a Thanksgiving break for 7 daylight hours when we celebrate football and excessive eating. We may toss in a cursory meal prayer of Thanksgiving for what we have been blessed with on that day as we listen to the Peanuts special out of the corner of our ears (if we can find it on TV)…That counts, right? Then we wait until Black Friday to go shopping immediately after this display of “thanks, no thanks” and bloody our neighbors at retail stores to save a small amount of money on a gift that will be forgotten/only mildly appreciated. Madness! Madness I tell you!! <Clearing my throat, adjusting my air tie>
This written pistol-whipping applies to me too. I am, in fact, quite guilty in this area. I am incredibly ungrateful many times. I take for granted my wonderful childhood and loving family and still have a lot of work to do in learning to appreciate what I have. I have even taken for granted that I would always be able to visit mom in person. Today I take for granted how great the last few months have been, even in light of how bad the previous 6-8 were. I am truly a black pot kettle person.
One silver lining…I think, partially because of mom’s plight and the long drives I have every day to see her, I am finally(!!!) starting to see the light and grow in this area. So, as I am wont to do, here are a few things about which you can be GRATEFUL in your season of caregiving:
God’s grace… in everything. I failed my mom by not pushing her to get checked. I failed God many times by being angry or untrusting through this mess even as He has always been faithful to me. Yet, I have and feel His grace every day. We ALWAYS have this as believers, and when I don’t feel it, it is a “me problem”.
RNs and the rest of our medical staff. The nurses do 99.999% of the work, from a medical standpoint, for mom’s physical health. Entry-level nurses at mom’s facility brave punches, falls, pulled muscles and the like, to make less than Sonic pays. They work day and night and weekends and holidays and every moment of every day in this hot mess! Even with its shortcomings, these nurses are a pretty darn well-oiled machine and do their best. I appreciate them very, very much!
Acts of kindness– I have been treated to many acts of kindness since I have started writing my little blog earlier this year. Thank you for all of the kind words of encouragement, for the (badly needed) prayer and for the many donations to two organizations that mean the world to me: SeniorAge and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Trials– There are two kinds of trials worth our consideration in thankfulness: 1. Trials as in being tested. God lets us have challenges throughout our life to humble us, to grow us and to grow our faith. Trials like helping and loving on a loved one with dementia surely serves this purpose. 2. Clinical trials through Trial Match and many, many other programs like it are the way that God, through science/brilliant minds He has created and through willing servants are going to bring a cure. I am thankful, in advance, for their success.
Every single day I get with mom and the Sweet 17. It is a tad selfish to feel this way because mom’s alternative to getting to be with me is getting to be with the Lord in heaven, forever. However, she is here for a reason and I will be thankful for every moment I have left.
Faithful examples. I am thankful for the small, but faithful group of spouses, pastors, laymen and families who visit and serve patients with dementia. I go as much as I possibly can and still fall far short of the service that many of these heroes without capes supply on a daily basis. Thank you for your example and for your Christ-like love.
Unapologetic brain nerds– I am thankful for the thousands of brain experts who are dedicating their lives to solve this gray bag of mush and fix what ails it, including dementia. It would be so much easier to pick a more understood specialty than the brain. As much as we think we know, we find out we don’t. Thank you for trying…and for using your brain to try to understand the brain.
Lily white. I am thankful, in advance, for a lily white Walk to End Alzheimer’s flower signifying that a cure has been found and, more importantly, for the lily white garments given to the faithful to wear forever in heaven someday. In that wonderful new home, there will be no sign of sin, of sadness, or of Alzheimer’s forever and ever and ever. What a day that will be!
Update: Mom had another good day yesterday. The streak of good days continues! Every day is a joy and, with God’s grace and help I will fully learn to see it that way. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving, all! You are all important to me. 🙂
#EndALZ #EndAlzheimers #Walk2EndAlz #AlzAssociation #GoPurple #Dementia #Thanksgiving