This is a story from a young person who is just looking at - TopicsExpress

This is a story from a young person who is just looking at marriage. Marriage, from a 91 year olds heart. January 27, 2012 at 7:10pm God has really taught me more than I ever imagined by a disease commonly thought of as old timers. In my youth I never expected to grow up and work with people who have the disease. God has grown stretched and pushed me hard in this career. Today I had to give my hours up (due to a new job and wild schedule before I get married) with a lady I learned to care very much about in the past 5 months. I spent three days out of the week at her house reminisching and enjoying tea and making sure shed eat. I learned to enjoy listening to her stories time after time no matter how much I had already heard them. She taught me to slow down, that alzheimers is not just a disease where people forget, but its a sickness where people need more love and attention than before. Where they get lonely and confused, and have deeper feelings than I could possibly imagine or have ever had. She taught me that im not just working, im caring. For all the people I take care of, whether its in home care, or in a facility with a million residents. So today I left teary eyed, I guess I never knew how much I cared, and how thankful her family was for me. Her daughter stopped by and brought me a wedding present! That was probably the biggest blessing and thank you ive ever recieved. We toasted with sparkling cider and then I spent the rest of my time asking this 91 year old lady how she worked through marriage, and what advice shed give me as a bride-to-be. Her response touched my heart so deeply, that I dont think I can ever forget it. I asked how she worked through it, she looked at me like I was crazy and said, Work? No, no, no, no! Marriage is not work honey, marriage is a blessing from God. With a wide grin and a cute chuckle, she proceeded to explain, When you find that one you love, and God blesses you and gives you a chance to spend your life with them, work is the last thing that comes from it. Its a blessing every day, every morning when you wake up you get to be with them. A special bond between best friends that youll never have another soul in the whole world, I have faith in you honey, you guys will last forever, the only advice I can give is just to remember how much you love him, because its really all that matters. I was kind of humbled at this point, I have been hearing how much work is marriage and how you have to learn to adapt and work through the arguments and bla bla bla, and God just kindly, from an elderly lady, reminded he simplest of truths, to love and never stop. I told her I was shocked by her answer and that Ive begun to think marriage is just going to be hard and different and just plain work, and again she got that grin and said, Honey, when youre in love, its hardly work at all. Trust me, I was married til he passed away. Oh goodness, This woman was something spectacular.I left knowing that even though she might not remember me in a couple weeks, that in her heart she will remember me, and ill never forget her. In the beginning of December was probably the last time I laughed to hard I cried, and it was with her. I am inspired that no matter how grumpy, how mean or combative a resident with Alzheimers ever gets, that I will love them. I will cherish them and forgive them and take care of them. Theyre disease will never be their fault, and the actions caused from the disease are what they are. And I could never be more thankful that God lead me to be a caregiver. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do. whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.