Mom was having a hard week, with a lot of confusion and
fatigue, to the point where she had to be fed; she couldn’t feed herself. I thought I was prepared for this, but my
heart ached so, as I sat beside her, held her hand and sang Christmas carols. Tears were not far and even to speak of it
brings them nigh to the surface. This
blitzkrieg on my Mom may be from a TIA- Transient Ischemic Attack, sometimes known as a mini-stroke. It could be the tipping point from vascular dementia to Alzheimer’s Disease, or some other unknown reason. Whatever it is, it is gut-wrenching.
It’s at times like these that I am grateful for the daily
dedication of the staff in The Home-their care, their love, their concern. For those of us who have loved ones in The
Home, we also need reminders that our community has not abandoned its seniors. In James
1:27, we are told: “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of
our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep
oneself unstained by the world.” Do we need a better reason to visit or
volunteer in The Home?
While gathering some things to decorate Mom’s room for
Christmas, I was reminded that this journey we are on is not a lonely one. The Creator, (John 1:1-3), the Sustainer,
(Colossians 2:16,17) and the Saviour, (Matthew 1:21) is with us. Coming across her old Christmas sweater, I
cut it down so it would fit in a picture frame.
I told Mom: “Every time you look at this you can remember skating across
‘Lac à
Innocent’ on your way to school.” She was so happy. And the fact that she can touch it makes the
memory all the more sweet.
(Mom ~ 94 years old)
Some days, Mom is still able to feed herself, enjoy some dancing and carry on a conversation. How I hope they will not diminish in number! Having her at home with family, on Christmas Day, was beyond special. There are no guarantees about the future, except that we are all getting older. There is a seniors’ health care tsunami coming, and in case you hadn't noticed, none of us
are getting younger. By volunteering
now, you may well be preparing yourself for the future, creating memories to
bring you through the golden years of your life. Mom could testify to this, as she visited at The Home right up until she moved there, a little over 7 months ago. Here's hoping one of your New Year's Resolutions will include The Home.
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