Living Still is a gift from God through Christ for you, a way to pass along lessons already learned.
Long Term Care dominates life. There is no time to meet others like yourself, to compare notes, or ask “Am I doing this right?”
This typically happens: The one in my care has died, so I’m supposed to leave and take all of my experience with me. You would be left alone to struggle along the same path I've already traveled, to face the same fear, to ask the same questions, to learn the same lessons, all the hard way.
Living Still is for you. For a record of lessons learned, for a witness of the faithfulness of God, for a testimony of the love of Christ, for hope in the life you live and the life you care for, please accept Living Still.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Memories and Reality

My father forgot who I was.
He thought I was his brother, Ray.
His mind settled at a time when he was seventeen.
Memories of that time in his life were intact.
I visited his friends and relatives, and learned stories from his youth.
I became Ray, and talked about those memories.
From that moment on, my father and I, as Ray, became best friends.

There may come a time
when the one in your care,
perhaps a parent,
no longer remembers who you are.
The mind may settle on a reality
that doesn’t include the present.
That reality might be of a different decade,
even one that doesn’t include you.
But, those memories might be very real.
Let it be.
You cannot restore a lost mind.
Talk in terms of those memories.
Do not fear this. It is not deliberate.
Do not hate this. It cannot be helped.
Do not blame God. He didn’t cause it.
Care anyway.
Love every way.
Sacrifice all the way.
Do all you can and then some.
Someday it might be you.

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