The Week After

It has been one week since my Dad's twin brother departed again, after flying out from Germany for a wonderful visit with our family. But this week has been difficult for Dad... the dementia messes with his memories of the visit; sometimes it was good, other times not so good, and on one or two occasions he was unable to remember the visit at all. It has also been a tumultuous week... Dad says he wants to see his brother "Now", and doesn't seem to understand why his twin can't just come back in an instant. We've had to handle fits of anger, despair, sobbing, and depression at all hours of the day or night. So we are tired and sick.

But it seems as though Dad is beginning to settle down again, thank God! And when he settles down, he often stuns me with the most breathtakingly profound spiritual thoughts and reflections, as he did again tonight as he, Mom and I read the Bible together (Psalm 119, to be specific...)

You know, my Dad is not 'crazy'... he is definitely not well as he struggles against the dementia, but he is still live in there, overcoming the power of the disease whenever he possibly can. And we are deeply appreciative of all of our friends who don't see a 'crazy person' when they look at Dad, but see instead a hurting and lonely soul who needs to be wept with (Rom. 12) and loved (1 Cor. 12) on a regular basis:

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (...) Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. - Romans 12:10-13, 15-16

But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. - 1 Corinthians 12:24b-26