The lessons I am Learning- Lesson #1

At this time in my life I am shocked by how much I am learning.

It seems as though there are lessons to be learned around every corner,

In every joyful situation,

In the midst of conversation,

Within difficulties and painful events,

In beautiful sunsets and starry skies

Listening to the rainfall and taking in the sunshine.

I am not sure if my eyes have been opened and therefore I am more teachable or if God is shouting in the midst of the painful period that involves caring for my mom with dementia.

Because I have nothing else to rely on with this disease of dementia I cling to God. Often this is my prayer.

Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

Lesson #1- Mom needs to feel Safe and Not Alone

Yesterday I was frustrated with her insistent pleads to come home from rehab. It seemed that the harder I tried to explain that she was going to be fine the more she cried out. On one hand it broke my heart to watch her cry in deep distress and anxiety, but on the other hand I just wanted her to relax and settle in with where she was at. My heart was so torn.

In the evening we had very loud thunderstorms that rattled our home. Our dog Spunky is so afraid and needy when these occur. In the midst of her repeated attempts to find comfort, she cradled herself as close to me as possible. You might find this to be a cute, sweet scene but at 2 am it didn’t appear that way to me. As I tried to comfort her I was reminded of my mother who also was so afraid of being alone. She just wants to be reminded that she is not alone.

This lesson is true of every person I know, no one wants to feel alone in this world. For my mom, the afternoon and evening time is like the resounding clatter of thunder. It stirs up fear and anxiety that whisper to her the lie that no one is there for her.

My job is to remind her that God is always present.  Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Not Abandoned

Isn't this little guy the cutest thing?  His name is Juanito and we met him in Colombia. He eagerly greeted us and then accompanied us through the village of La Playita. Most of the homes in the village are simple, made with cement blocks and are able to withstand the cyclic flooding, if they can quickly move their belongings to a higher place. Juanito's home was of the poorest that we had seen, made of wood scraps, tin roof and a dirt floor. His mother Jennifer, standing in the doorway welcomed us in to meet her baby. Inside were two rooms separated by a sheet and a lone plastic chair. My heart was heavy when we entered, yet I knew that we had gifts to share with her and her family.

We had heard about Juanito's story from the Pastors. Martha and Jose spoke with his mother and encouraged her to allow Juanito to attend their school. She openly shared that she did not want him  and was not concerned about his schooling. After convincing her, Juanito began school. On his first day of school, they realized that this child had more hurdles than most students. He was lacking in the following skills;

A recognizable language

Hygiene

Wearing clothing

Where to go the bathroom

Social skills 

Day after day, the teachers at the school bathed, clothed and patiently taught him. The child that stood in front of us seemed so different from the child we had heard about. I was saddened to hear that a child could so easily be discarded, left to care for himself, abandoned to the streets. My sadness turned to anger when I first met this beautiful, cheerful child of God. How could a mother cast aside her child?, I contemplated as we rode through La Playita.

Now as we stood face to face with his mother and looked into his bright eyes, it was difficult to reconcile all of the emotions.

 All I wanted to do was pick him up and tell him that he was not forgotten, not abandoned, and that there was a love that would never leave him! 

Then Jennifer and her new baby caught my eye and I was reminded that we were there on a mission of love, of hope and to bring the good news to everyone. Gently I embraced her and prayed that God would fill her with His hope, His joy and His provision, that she would come to understand fully God's promise to be with us.

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Pray for Juanito, his mother Jennifer and her baby that they would all come to a loving relationship with Jesus! Pray also for the ministry of Martha and Jose at the Rose of Sharon school in Colombia.