Yesterday I took my mom to Jireh Cafe, a new Christian bakery/coffee shop in the area. Around 7 years ago, my mom started showing signs of some type of Alzheimer's or Dementia. Now, seven years later, she has full blown frontotemporal dementia (Pick's Disease), leaving her with the inability to speak, comprehend, and function at even a basic level. The disease has completely stolen my mom away from us. Although I don't know why, I trust that God has allowed this to happen for a good reason. She was- and is- one of God's saints. She was an incredible, Godly mother. She now lives with her brother and his wife who are serving her as one would serve Christ (I can do an entire entry on how amazing they are!)- and coincidentally (or not so coincidentally!), they live just 25 minutes from me. I usually take the kids to see her once a week, but this week I went by myself so I could have more quality time with her.
Since she can't speak or comprehend, its hard to think of things to do with her. Usually I take her walking somewhere, because she loves to see people and God's nature. But this week, I tried something different when I took her to Jireh Cafe. We ordered smoothies, and then I started reading aloud to her from a book called, "Heaven Awaits". She was pretty quiet while I was reading, and I knew that she didn't understand but I continued reading because the content was great. And then I read the following passage:
"In England I was told of a lady who had been bedridden for years. She was one of those saints whom God polishes up for the kingdom- for I believe that there are a good many saints in this world whom we never hear about. We never see their names heralded through the press. They live very near the Master, very near heaven."
As soon as I finished those words, she enthusiastically looked up and muttered something that sounded like "yes"! I couldn't believe it, it was as though her spirit woke up and was trying to communicate with me. It reminded me of the verse in 1 Corinthians 2 that says, "For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him?" It was so comforting, I felt like God was telling me, "Yes! That's exactly what I'm doing! Don't worry about her, she is close to Me and close to Heaven".
I smiled that God's spirit spoke to me through my mom who can't talk. The flesh may weaken, but the Spirit is so very much alive :)
