"Emmy, I don't know what to do," Addy told her sister as they got ready for bed. "I want to keep visiting Grandpa at the nursing home, but each time gets harder. Remember when he used to play games with us and make us laugh? Now he just stays in bed and sometimes doesn't even recognize us."
"That awful Alzheimer's disease changes everything," Emmy said. "I hate it!"
When Mom came in to tuck them in and listen to their prayers, she sat down on Emmy's bed. "You two were pretty quiet on our way back from the nursing home. Is there anything you want to talk about?"
"I don't like what happened to Grandpa," Emmy said.
"I don't understand why it happened," Addy added.
Mom closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I know it's hard. Parts of Grandpa's brain have stopped working like they used to. Over time, Grandma and the rest of us had to do more for him. Now he's in the nursing home, where nurses and other workers help take care of him."
"Like how little babies' moms and dads take care of everything they need," Emmy said.
"It's like that," Mom said. "Even though Grandpa doesn't always remember our names now or sometimes even who we are, he still remembers love. He doesn't talk much, but have you noticed how he will sometimes tell us he loves us? And he smiles whenever he says I love you' to Grandma."
"Yes," said Addy.
"And when we sing Jesus Loves Me' together, he knows every word," Emmy added.
"The good news is that although Grandpa's brain and body are slowly dying, there will come a time when he will have his body and brain back again, and they will be perfect. In fact, we all will one day. The Bible tells us that when Jesus returns and raises Christians from the dead, He will change our weak, earthly bodies into glorious bodies like His own."
"Wow!" Addy said.
"And Grandpa will remember everything then," Emmy said.
Mom nodded. "In the meantime, let's pray together that Grandpa will continue to feel our love--and that we'll feel the love of Jesus during this difficult time." Lynda Boucher
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you know someone with an illness or disability? Maybe it’s a condition that has changed their life so much that they aren’t able to do things or interact with others the way they used to. It’s hard to see someone we love go through that, but remember that if they know Jesus, He will give them a perfect body one day. Keep reminding them of His love, and trust Him to take care of them.
TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Philippians 3:21 (KJV)
He will change our humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body. Christ can do this by his power, with which he is able to rule everything. (ERV)