We have a fairly new Alzheimer's Ministry group at Grace Church. We are several families with a parent or spouse with A.D. and others who want to help us. Our Special Ministries pastor, Ric McLean heads it up. This morning, at our monthly meeting, it was great to see how the group is beginning to encourage each other. I was reminded of 2 Corinthians 1:4. God, "comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." I've been thinking about Romans 8:28 too. "...God causes ALL THINGS to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Sin became part of our world in the Garden. If I were there at the time, I would have fallen just like Adam and Eve. So the resulting death, disease, loss, labor, difficulty, pain, sorrow, etc, etc, is here in every generation since the beginning. But they are not wasted. All these things cause suffering true, BUT are included in the "ALL THINGS" God is using in our lives, for GOOD. One of those good things is the comfort we experience as we are encouraged, and comforted by others who have gone before us or are right along side us. Pastor Ric reminded us of some of the ways God uses suffering in the lives of his children. The fact that suffering is very short in light of eternity, and a tool in the hand of God to mold Gary and I, is encouraging. That thought gives me COURAGE! The group is bonding in a way that will be invaluable and we're so blessed to be a part.
Trouble
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me: You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me." When it seems like there are more "bad" than "good" days in the course of a week, like THIS week, I begin to wonder if we're reaching a new stage in the progression of Gary's disease. During these times I am tempted by the Enemy of our souls to give in to despair, frustration, control, self pity, and more. He is, after all, "prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." I'm sure that anyone who has been close to someone with a progressive disease that has no cure, experiences this same kind of "trouble." The kind of trouble that you just have to accept, because you can't change it. Last summer, we reached one of these new "stages" and at that time, I gave myself over to self pity, and the rest of it for many days. I am so thankful for the Lord's kindness to yank me out of that thinking back to His side, where I was revived and saturated with His wonderful promises to "accomplish what concerns me." I hate when I'm tempted to go down that road again, and by God's grace, this week, He has reminded me, again, of His completely kind hands which made both Gary and I and will do what's best.
"Your lovingkindness, O LORD is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands." Psalms 138:7-8
Revived, and ready for another one...let's see what tomorrow has in store.
"Your lovingkindness, O LORD is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands." Psalms 138:7-8
Revived, and ready for another one...let's see what tomorrow has in store.
Gary's Prayers - "Trust"
Since being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in '07, I wrote down some of Gary's prayers...
November 1, 2009
"Thank you God for giving me something to make me trust you so I don't need to worry. You are all I need and use me to glorify You."
Watercolor Journals - Spring
This Cherry Blossom Monogram is an intended birthday gift from one friend to another. These pink flowers just say SPRING to me. They always have. The birds outside our window were "going crazy" while I was working on it. This morning when I flung open the curtains, I surprised a robin with a mouthful of twigs. I thought she would drop the bundle and flee, but she just looked at me and kept on towards her target, somewhere under our eve. The "nesting instinct" overrode the "element of surprise.New Alzheimer's Page
Just a quick post this time to let you know that I added a page to my blog about Alzheimer's. I will be accumulating information that has been helpful for us, so if you know anyone whose family is touched with this disease, please feel free to pass on the link to my blog. www.ihavebeenyoung.blogspot.com
Colors
32 years ago Gary and I created this stained glass window for our kitchen. It was a very fun project that led to a cottage industry, designing and crafting custom stained glass for 12 years. So much has happened since then. To quote Karen Carpenter, “We’d only just begun…” Recently, I’ve been able to get “artsy” again, with watercolor illustrations. I call them “Colors By Laurie.” I have been mulling over the idea that my life is colorful too, not unlike a stained glass window.
I have experienced the light and bright joys, as well as the “dark” events that everyone dreads. My greatest earthly happiness is my husband. He and I have partnered together to face life and that has made for some wonderful memories. The fun of watching a thunderstorm from our bedroom with the girls with the French doors wide open, “batting practice” at Lake Powell, the Murder Mystery Parties, transitioning our daughters into the hands of the men they said “Yes” to, of course all the grandkiddos, and the endless practical jokes and movie quotes. All of these have been peppered with hard times as well, and now, in the last decade I’ve had a bout with Stage 3 Breast Cancer, and a few years ago, Gary was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. We have the privilege of walking together through the “for worse” part just like the “for better” part, and though no one knows the future, I have a pretty good idea of what’s likely.
Our world could be monochromatic, but it’s NOT! I’m thankful for the variety of colors, darks, lights, textures, mass, shapes, and lines. I’m not meaning to sound like an art class, (nod to Mr. DeGrassi) but it’s true! Look around. Our world is FULL of visual variety. That’s what makes it interesting, from the clear, aqua waters of Florida, to the vivid orange sunsets over the rugged, massive Rocky Mts. Why did God make the world that way? Artist’s prerogative. He does whatever He pleases, and it pleased Him to make the world beautiful, and then, give us minds that appreciate it!
If a stained glass window is all one color, it can be a nice geometric design, and that’s great, but it won’t tell a story. It needs shapes that mean something to the viewer, line so the eye can cruise around the entire composition, texture for interest, and those dark areas of contrast that make the colors stand out beautifully. People are creative, because they are created in the image of God. God is creating a beautiful thing in the lives of His people. “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days—You would not believe if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5
For a blast from the past...Here's a Keith Green song I love on the same topic. Jon, this one's for you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNoYNlvpcek&feature=related