Friday Writing...4/12/19..."With Us Always"

Good morning,

The devotional today is bringing up the suffering of people with Alzheimers. They are confused and hurting and in the early stages they know that they are failing. In the later stages they come in and out and eventually have no memory of family and their own lives. If anyone ever needed prayer these people do. Karen Bennett wrote, "Your (God's) love is so great that You will never leave us or forsake us no matter what situation we are in. Please help and give comfort to all who suffer from these diseases and their families and friends as well. 

Please remember to pray daily for those afflicted with Alzheimers.

Blessings for a weekend of joy.

Karen Bennett

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Today's Devotional 

"With Us Always" 

Written by 

Karen Bennett

The news hurt. Sadness flowed over me as I thought about what lay before my beloved friend. Having worked for seven years with dementia patients in different facilities, I knew only too well the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and I ached for her.

In the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s the patient suffers terrible confusion attempting to understand what is happening to them. Most family members at this point are supportive, some unfortunately not. Some family members don’t know how to deal with it themselves. 

As the disease progresses, the hurt shifts to the family members and friends, as they are no longer recognized by the patient. Once that stage has been reached, many family members cease their visits. Their excuse is that the patient didn’t know they were there anyway. Sadly, many  of the residents sit slumped in their chairs with a blank look on their faces. 

Being the Life Enrichment Director in long term care and memory care facilities, one of my responsibilities was to do the monthly activity calendar for the residents. In addition to activities that would keep their memories in the front of their minds longer, we had entertainment, which also brought memories back. Entertainers would play an instrument and/or sing to recorded music, and faces would light up as lyrics were recalled. It wasn’t but a couple of minutes before nearly everyone in the room was singing.

There were times groups of singers would come in from different churches in the
area. They passed out printed lyric pages which contained old standards, patriotic songs, and of course, hymns. 

It always stirred my soul to see the blissful looks of faith on the faces of many residents and the calm that settled over them as we all sang. I always knew Jesus was with them and was giving them comfort and peace through the Holy Spirit.

For those of us who have loved ones with a dementia disease, you need never worry. If they were believers, they will not be forsaken in their hour of need. God takes care of His own.

“Never will I leave you, 

never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5b. 

These words are in several places in the Bible in several situations. God does not desert us in our hour of need. He’s with us through thick and thin. I know my beautiful friend is in His loving care now, and will be throughout the duration of this disease. I will not cease to pray for her comfort, and it is comforting to me as well to know she is not alone. Let these words comfort you if you have a loved one with dementia. 

Father, Thank You for making us aware that we needn’t fear for our loved ones with any form of dementia, or even fear getting it ourselves. It is great peace to know Your love is so great that You will never leave us or forsake us no matter what situation we are in. Please help and give comfort to all who suffer from these diseases and their families and friends as well. Thank You for having so many verses in the Bible that tell us You are always there. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Chris Tomlin

sings

"WHOM SHALL I FEAR"

{GOD OF ANGEL ARMIES}

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This devotional calls for readers and those who 

know people affected by Altimeters  to understand 

what those people are going through, and to do what they

can do to help them carry their burden,

Written by

Joni Erickson Tada

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries.

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