Our beautiful Mema has Alzheimer's and after a visit with her today, I realized the Mema we all love who knows us all by our outward appearance no longer is able to do that. We have to tell her who we are and then she is taken back in time to a place where she remembers.
Mema is 89 years old and told us with tears in her eyes, that she had been saved at the early age of 15. She recalled the times of her childhood where she yearned for her Daddy to be saved and how excited she was the day he gave his life to the Lord. She can tell you all of her children's names and remembers so many detailed things about their lives growing up, but just moments later, she is trying to recall who the face before her is.
The Alzheimer's Foundation states that Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time. I find this disease so interesting. Observing Mema the woman we have all grown to love is slowly slipping away, but the beautiful christian spirit that she has lives on. While visiting with her, she quoted scripture after scripture with us and sang songs to us of God's love. The spirit of God that lives within each and everyone of us cannot be broken. The Bible tells us "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
The legacy that Mema is leaving for all of us is far beyond any disease that would try to rob her of her testimony. I found this poem today and thought it was befitting for such a wonderful person whom I love so dear - Willa Lee Thurmond (Dink) A Devoted Christian, Mother, Grandmother and Friend.
Do not ask me to remember.
Don't try to make me understand.
Let me rest and know you're with me.
Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.
I'm confused beyond your concept.
I am sad and sick and lost.
All I know is that I need you
To be with me at all cost.
Do not lose you patience with me.
Do not scold or curse or cry.
I can't help the way I'm acting,
Can't be different 'though I try.
Just remember that I need you,
That the best of me is gone.
Please don't fail to stand beside me,
Love me 'till my life is done.
- Unknown
2 comments:
What a beautiful poem!
I am sorry your family is facing this; we did with David's "Pop", it was a very dificult tme for us all. However, we now remember the wonderful times with him and the wisdom he imparted as a godly man. And, every now and then, we have a chuckle at something the disease said or did (for we know that was not him). :)
Blessings and grace to your family during this time, Edwina.
This is a great post. She sounds like an incredible woman. I know you guys are glad to get to see her and spend some time with her. I know it can be hard too. The poem was very touching. Blessings to you both.
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