Is anyone else having a challenge of doing things scriptural, verses what the secular world says. As in scripture says to put others before me whereas the secular world says put me first. I know what is right, just wondering if others may struggle with this. And how do we mourn the loss of ourselves without sinking into depression? How do we have joy in the midst of our trials and tribulations? It seems that as time passes my patience doesn't hurt as much, (must be experience), but still everyday I start wearing down where my patience begins to hurt a little and I am struggling not to let it be seen. I spend a lot of time in prayer and in the word, that is the only way I have the strength to do this, putting myself aside. But as a faulty human being, I am still in a struggle and seek like minded individuals who understand. May God bless all those who are loving their loved ones to the best of their ability.
I am going to a funeral tomorrow. This was a lady who was a devout Christian, and ended up with Alzheimers after being in a bad car wreck. This woman was never the same, but she knew she wanted to go to church, and she would recall at random times things about Jesus Christ. But, her mind being as it was she also suffered severely from sundowners and her personality would change for the negative. Not her fault one bit. And God knows that, and I do not believe she will be punished for the things she did being out of her right mind. God knows the thoughts and intent of the heart, I have no doubt this woman will be in Heaven. And her DH although grief stricken, is comforted by his faith and knows the same, that her suffering is over.
God does not expect more than we are able.
I do agree as it says in Romans 10:9-11, John 3:15-17, and so on, that Faith in Christ is how we obtain salvation. It is not of works lest any man should boast.
However, faith is an action word and as we read in the book of James, we must put our faith into action. Because an inactive faith is a dead faith.
Wally,
If your Mom was a believer, she is still a believer. God knows and I believe she will be judged on her life pre-illness, not after. She cannot help what it is now. I still want to encourage you to try and take her to church and read scripture to her, or whatever you can just to keep her spirit fed even if her mind is not receiving it, her heart is.
May God bless you all!! Always seek the truth.
As LL said, Jesus is the way the truth and the Light.
And No man cometh to the Father but through Jesus.
By the way, there is a time limit on editing or deleting on this forum.
When she could no longer drive in her mid 80's she stopped going to church but watched church programs on t.v.
When her dementia started I noticed she didn't bring up God in our conversations much anymore. In fact, I would try to get her to open up about it but she never would. When her mind really started to fail her and we had no choice but to transition her to an Aging care facility I deliberately put her Bible and her Daily Bread devotion book right on her bed side table. I could tell when I came to visit her that they hadn't been touched.
So fast forward to the week before she went unconscious and spent a week in the hospital before her death. My very last visit with her in the nursing home I had brought her a new Daily devotion book and I turned it to a comforting story that I thought might help her. Just before I left that day I said to her "Read that!"
My last conversation with her on the phone before she became unconscious and I never got to speak with her again she said "Incidentally, was it you who brought me the Bible and devotion book?" I said yes. She said "thank-you" It was right after that, a week later she died.
I truly believe that whatever she read in that book helped her in some way to come to terms with dying and brought her some comforting closure. I know this inside of me. I can't explain how I know, I just do.
Do I believe that every Christian just happily sails into death without a worry? No I don't. But I think if you feel in your heart that you are right with God, your maker, whatever you want to refer to it as, you will have peace in your heart when you die.
I agree, God does not blame her.
Hope that I did not offend.
It is so hard to know what to say to anybody on a public forum.
its just that I know my mom would care about religion if she could. if I gave her something religious to help she would say thank you. and then stick it in a drawer some place. she just doesn't know. and I know god doesn't blame her.
grrr I tried for 5 min to hit the edit button and would not work. grrr
I wanted to add. and now I cant even remember what I wanted to add LOL
It does not necessarily follow to live better, is to die better does it?
A very interesting conversation you have brought up.
Is it covered under: "The rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous?"
I want to go out singing His praises. I should learn to sing, therefore.
Can you give Mom a cross to hold?
Whoever God is to her, He will remember her.
Thank you for your post. I have wondered about Christians having dementia or Alzheimers, and they get mean to their family. Their brain is broken. We talk about our christian witness, and the patient's witness is toast.
I no longer attend church, and no one is ever going to be saved because of my life today as a witness. But I can still pray.
meh, wish I could delete my post.
I'd like to know if others have seen what I have seen from my several times of being in the ER or other situations in which someone was about to die.
Not everyone dies the same. I've noticed that Christians die better or more at peace than unbelievers or those who were Christian in name only.
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” —1 Peter 5:2–4
She went into rest this morning. Her suffering is over. It is Bittersweet, as her DH will be grieving for a long time. But, also, I believe he might have some relief, to know she is no longer hurting and that he had taken care of her until the end, and he doesn't have to worry about her if he were to go.
I am sorry about Cathy. Will keep her in my prayers.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Revelation 14:13
I will definitely be praying for your cousin.
I hope you had a lovely visit with your son. I am sure the Lord delights in your mornings with HIM.
LL- Thank you for your concern, and prayers. Visited the lady and her husband and daughter this day, in between services.
I am not grieved by her passing as I know she will be leaving this world for something better. Something glorious and that I long for one day. But, her husband he said, "i use to say I hoped she went first(because she had Alzheimer's and he took care of her and was concerned at what would become of her if he was gone),But, now I'm not so sure."
Oh he is so heart broken, even though he knows she is going home, and he tells her that too, that she is going home. So, his grief is what I feel. But, Oh how I pray for him and his daughter.
This has been so hard on my Mom as well, and that makes me sad. But the Lord has got them all covered.
I have been off line for quite a while and recently started posting again. Mainly because I was tied up dealing with so many things and anxiety as well as preparing for a trip to see my son in Korea.
I have not caught up but just reading the poem on caregiving was uplifting and so real. I don't think its a coincidence that I happen to read news feed and a post from this thread caught my attention.
Moringings I say a few words to God. I thank him for things and then express my heart. I somehow left my new testament on plane. I visited my son's office and he happened to have two of the same bibles and gave me one which I started reading. Its a leadership bible and I am learning how to use it.
So this am I wasn't really surprised when I ended up posting here.
My cousin who has had a few previous bougts with cancer now has ca in the lungs and stomach. Please pray for her.
I hope you are all in good spirit and health.
Rays of love peace and happiness to you all.
John 14:1-4 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
Romans 12:15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Proverbs 11:2
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
Proverbs 16:18
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Proverbs 29:23 "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor."
But just look what happened to Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar.
Pride goeth before destruction.
As caregivers we often have to swallow our pride, to overlook what we feel or want, in the best interests of our loved ones.
But, the strength and patience and all the growth as a person, is escalated above what we would be if we chose not to set ourselves aside.
James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Revelation 22:13
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
Hebrews 12:2
I have just really been holding onto this verse these days. The Alpha and the Omega.
Faithful is he that promised.
Sending prayers posthaste.
The couple we visit a couple of days weekly(well, I haven't been able to except yesterday after services, but DH and Mom still go almost everyday now), well, she had fallen and broke her ribs, was in the hospital a few days, then they released her, then she went back to the hospital a few days ago, due to low oxygen levels. Went to see her yesterday, not doing so well, and he couldn't keep from crying, watching his dear wife in this state. But, we made her smile and held her hand and just talked with her, and her laughter made him feel better. Only she is not breathing well at all. They sent her back to AL and have now put her on hospice. :(
So sad and heavy to watch those we love go through these tough and sad days. But, we pray with them and just be there with them as oft as we can. DH rearranges his days to make sure to put visiting them first, especially in this difficult time. God's will be done.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13