God with us - Week 49: Romans 8:37-39
On Friday, I dressed up as an Elf, raising money and awareness for the Alzheimer's Society. It's not a look I intend to embrace going forward and I was reminded that felt is a very unforgiving fabric!
Unfortunately, in Mid-November, my Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. That's probably as much as I'll mention about my Dad as this is his diagnosis and his story, but I still feel the need to share what's on my heart regarding this horrible disease.
For the past couple of months, I've read books, watched youtube clips, and tried to understand more about this illness. Feeling hopeless, I decided to participate in the Alzheimer's Society Elf Day and have raised £350 so far. It's not much, but at least it feels like I'm doing something! Despite my bright green and red suit and the jangly bell on my hat, there were lots of moments on Elf Day where a wave of sadness hit me.
I didn't want this disease to come anywhere near my family, and I know that this is the worst nightmare for the one it's set its sights on!
As the connections in the brain close down, another memory is lost, another word misplaced, and another skill diminished. This disease operates like a pickpocket, sneaking into the mind and slowly taking the person away, one synapse at a time. Yes, there are moments of laughter and joy, but the slow-motion grief is hard to stomach at times.
As a family, we're not alone in this.
Over 850,000 people live with Alzheimer's in the UK, and as it stands, there is no cure.
As you can imagine, a lot of time is spent praying about the impact of this condition on those I love. Like many diseases, Alzheimer's is a condition of loss. Confidence is lost, and there can be a reluctance to engage in activities that play a huge part in a person's life, including going to church. Being part of the faith community can be challenging when you're unable to participate in the way you used to and struggle to understand why that is. It's another loss to deal with.
I was going to steer clear of this topic, but as I turned to the scripture this week, there was a part of me that felt peace. Illnesses, including Alzheimer's, take so much from us. They try to steal our joy, peace, ability to connect with others, skills, and physical strength, but there are some things they cannot steal.
37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39
It brings me peace to know that although Alzheimer's may start to separate me from the ones I love, it will never separate them from the love of God.
Kay Moorby
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