Quotes and Comments One

• The aging process is a part of most of our lives, and it remains one we try to ignore until it seems to pounce upon us. ~~ M.F.K Fisher

My husband and I keep talking about slowing down, not being able to do as much. This hasn't pounced on me yet. I still think I need to do a lot because he does less. However, I enjoy sitting by his side on my little notebook computer while he watches TV movies and I half listen. Being with him is so important. I realize from the training I am getting that it calms him down, helps him be less anxious.

This week I went to my third monthly caregiver's group. I learned that being a caregiver to an Alzheimer's loved-one is the hardest disease to be a caregiver for. I learned also that families react very differently when the loved-one has Alzheimer's: some are doers and some are talkers and some just don't know what to do or say. Also there are other family dynamics that will play out.

• The stresses of a former marriage continue to have impact on the new marriage as well. . . . When there has been a divorce and a remarriage, the counselor first must be sure that any wrongs committed in the transaction are righted before God and all parties involved.~~ Jay E. Adams

When an ex-wife of my husband told me over lunch that she was the better parent, I contacted his adult children and let them know that if they have issues with my husband, they need to discuss it with him while he has memory. Hopefully confession and forgiveness can take place as Dr. Adams suggests. Ira Byock in Four Things That Matter Most says people while they can need to communicate: 1) I love you; 2) thank you; 3) please forgive me; 4) I forgive you. I trust that process is happening.

• Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise and providence of God, and yet it is a sin that Christians commit perhaps more frequently than any other.~~ John MacArthur

I must confess that I worry. I thank God that yesterday when I started to worry, a friend chatted with me on Facebook and that calmed me down. How can I trust God? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  Here are some of my favorite verses I have been meditating on lately for direction and peace:

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7) Love suffers long and is kind . . . does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things. Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13) The heart of her husband safely trusts her. (Proverbs 31:11)

Prayer and supplication have been the subjects of sermons at our church recently and with turning over my requests to God I have the best chance at His peace. I have been asking our Lord to guide me as I have on more responsibilities, to let my husband continue to trust me and to help my love for him be constant in these senior years. Lord, I bring before You my prayers and supplications for events this month.