Friday, October 26, 2012

Lessons From the Edge

Heaven is going to be glorious.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelation 21:4

If I could add to that list, I would like to add that there will also be no more dementia or other mental disease. Because the past couple weeks at Edgewood the pain of death and dementia and mental disease have been real.
*One beautiful woman lost her battle with cancer.
*Another woman had to move to a facility where she could receive more care because of a mental disease which has progressed too far for us.
*And as I was leaving work Wednesday, still another woman was being moved to an Adult Foster Care because her dementia has gotten so much worse than when she first moved to Edgewood.

I look at these women whom I have come to love, and I get so sad.
Yes, the one who lost her battle with cancer was a believer. I know she is resting in the arms of Jesus now. In fact we prayed together just days before her passing, and I know she was looking forward to being with HIM. Still, her husband is alone now, and my heart is sad for him.
And, yes, the two other women had their quirky characteristics. To be honest, many of our residents were bothered by these women because of their mental issues. But I love both of them. I have delighted in them. And I am going to miss them so!

The things I see at Edgewood - the progression of mental and physical deterioration - truly sadden me. I hear residents talk about the perils of aging, and how they wish they could do things like they did yester-year. And I am tempted to adopt a negative attitude about this aging process.
But then God reminds me that HE is redeeming this world. HE is making all things new. I remember we are NOT alone to face the aches and pains of aging, or the confusion of a demented mind. God holds our hand and walks us through the trials of this life. And there will come a day when He will wipe away all our tears, when death and aging will have nothing to say to us anymore because the old order of things will have passed away. Oh, how I long for that day!

Heaven is going to be glorious.

Karen

2 comments:

Leah Adams said...

Think I will paste this post on the back of my hand....I fear growing old and sick. I need this reminder to be in my mind often.

Karen Hossink said...

Leah - I have never thought about aging like I do now - because I see it's effects nearly every day. And I, too, have fears about going through these same things in years to come.
Trusting in the grace of our God to carry me through!