It started with a slight case of forgetfulness; placing an order for coffee at Starbucks and walking away from the counter without paying or receiving coffee; arriving home, getting out of the car and locking the keys inside with the engine running. Soon the forgetfulness progressed; waking up and not knowing where you are; forgetting the names of loved ones. Then, one day it becomes clear, dementia becomes a reality.
My grandfather was a self-sufficient, individualist; managing a half acer organic garden and raising hundreds of free-range chickens on his property; he provided food and shelter for my grandmother and even carved out some free time to volunteer at a local shelter for women and children in their food bank. Amazingly enough, he had the energy to continue at this pace until he was 81 years old, however, after he received the diagnosis of 2nd stage dementia; a condition he managed to keep hidden from friends and family for longer than average, he realized that he had to face this frightening reality and develop a new approach to life.
Now, the good news is that my grandfather had a tremendous faith in Jesus. He was the person who modeled Christ's love for me and showed me how to rely on Him to provide and to recharge my soul during prayer so that I could go out and love others without worrying about burning out. The hard part for him was giving up his independence; I remember the day he talked to the family about how difficult this transition was for him; it was as if he was guiding us through the unknowns of his own illness. On that day, I learn a lesson that has stuck with me - 15 years later; in order to learn new things or remember old things, you have to take an attitude of humility when someone offers you a different perspective. Suspend your disbelief and curb your desire to say no, until you have heard the person out.
I was blessed enough to watch my grandfather model this approach for the next 5 years, until he was no longer able to stay in touch with reality. Christ took him home a short time later, but not before he made a lasting impact on the lives of the family he pastored over for 86 years.
My grandfather was a self-sufficient, individualist; managing a half acer organic garden and raising hundreds of free-range chickens on his property; he provided food and shelter for my grandmother and even carved out some free time to volunteer at a local shelter for women and children in their food bank. Amazingly enough, he had the energy to continue at this pace until he was 81 years old, however, after he received the diagnosis of 2nd stage dementia; a condition he managed to keep hidden from friends and family for longer than average, he realized that he had to face this frightening reality and develop a new approach to life.
Now, the good news is that my grandfather had a tremendous faith in Jesus. He was the person who modeled Christ's love for me and showed me how to rely on Him to provide and to recharge my soul during prayer so that I could go out and love others without worrying about burning out. The hard part for him was giving up his independence; I remember the day he talked to the family about how difficult this transition was for him; it was as if he was guiding us through the unknowns of his own illness. On that day, I learn a lesson that has stuck with me - 15 years later; in order to learn new things or remember old things, you have to take an attitude of humility when someone offers you a different perspective. Suspend your disbelief and curb your desire to say no, until you have heard the person out.
I was blessed enough to watch my grandfather model this approach for the next 5 years, until he was no longer able to stay in touch with reality. Christ took him home a short time later, but not before he made a lasting impact on the lives of the family he pastored over for 86 years.
