On the second Sunday of Advent, I shared a message on Alzheimer’s Disease. I said that we would reprint an Online article I wrote a few years ago that related to the message. Here it is.
Christmas is a time of seeing loved ones and enjoying their company in an atmosphere of joy and giving. I love it.
I love it, that is, unless I’m visiting my Aunty who resides in an Alzheimer’s home. It’s a lovely home. They have Christmas decorations everywhere. They take good care of her. But no amount of Christmas lights and tinsel, no amount of excellent care can change the condition in which I find her.
Last week, I tried to feed her the lunch that was prepared for her. Her meal included pureed meat, pureed vegetables, pureed potatoes, chocolate pudding, milk and orange juice. She wouldn’t eat. She just stared at me.
My Aunty no longer talks very much. She just stares. Sometimes, she eats well. Sometimes, she doesn’t. She can no longer walk or take care of her needs. She needs twenty-four hour attention.
What’s so difficult whenever I visit her is that I don’t know what to do. I try to go during meals so that I can feed her. It’s something to do with her. But when she doesn’t eat, it’s awkward, to say the least. I don’t know whether to cry or to run.
Yesterday, I listened to a song entitled, Christmas Carol. It’s about a man who visits a woman who is suffering from Alzheimer or some form of dementia (there’s a line in the song, which says that “her mind was nearly gone”). They call her Christmas Carol, in other words, her name is Carol and the only thing she can do is sing Christmas Songs. The last thing my Aunty was able to do coherently was sing. Now she just sits.
The words of the song encouraged me. Here are the words (I think it is accurate).
“Last time that I saw her, she didn’t recognize me. Her hair was thin, she was frail; and she couldn’t even speak. But I could sit down next to her, Sing her favorite Christmas song. Somehow, God only knows how, she could still sing right along. Sing, O Sing Christmas Carol, sing with all of your might, Sing ‘Joy to the World’, sing ‘O Holy Night’. You’re closer now to Jesus, than you’ve ever been. Sing, O Sing Christmas Carol, sing your songs to Him.”
When I visit my Aunty this week, I’m going to take some Christmas CDs and ask the staff to play it in her unit. I think I will try to sing Christmas Carols with her. I hope it’s not a solo.
I shared this past week that we needed to ask ourselves the question of Advent (“Then what shall I do?”) and move from self-absorption to expectation. We need to do some good deeds, which can only happen if we become less self-absorbed.
The Lord is good…no, great. He has blessed me with something to do which necessitates me becoming less self-absorbed. I have no idea how it is going to turn out, but that’s what’s wonderful about a faith journey and you know what? Maybe, she is closer now to Jesus than she’s ever been. I hope so.
Merry Christmas in Jesus,
Pastor Cory, d.v.
d.v., deo volente: God willing