new church life: march / april 2014
(5) “You are the light of the world, (and put that light) on a lampstand,
(where it) gives light to all who are in the house.” (Matthew 5: 14-15)
If I have energy, interest and inspiration to give people who need it, I
need to give it. That’s what gets me out of bed every day, with good will in
my heart and willingness to serve a person in every way. Every person on
this journey needs this kind of support: the person with dementia, the family,
friends, spouse, professional caregivers who joined our community to give
more support when a person couldn’t eat or drink or get out of bed unassisted
anymore. I am thankful that I have spiritual resources to draw on that filled
my cup to do this work. It was a good way to spend time for me, and for those
I served.
(6) “During our spiritual tests, we are apparently left completely alone,
although in fact we are not alone - at those times God is most intimately
present at our deepest level, giving us support.” (True Christian Religion 126)
You may know the famous Footsteps poem, written by Mary Stevenson in
1936. This came to mind when I read this quote. When a person needs full care
to get through the day, that is what caregivers provide, “carrying” the person
when needed, even if that person doesn’t recognize the efforts. 33
(7) The Lord’s Divine Providence has as its end a heaven
from the human race. (Divine Providence 27)
This belief has given me the countenance of respect, patience, empathy,
encouragement and positive energy toward helping people finish their lives
on earth, regarding them as angels in the making, no matter what external
appearances suggest. I also believe that they get to become themselves again in
the next realm, free from the diseases that makes them forget who they are, as
Tammy’s story illustrates.
3 One night I dreamt I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed
across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered
me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or
defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But
I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have been only one set of footprints in
the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you.”
Footsteps by Mary Stevenson, 1936
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