Mitzi told me recently that she feels like having Alzheimer’s has actually made her a better person. She said she has more compassion. She values quality time with people even more than she used to. And her faith has been tested far greater than she could ever imagine, yet it has remained strong. It is that faith, in the face of the ever-present demon of dementia that is such a marvel to witness…Like the time she followed a man to his car from the gym who she knew was a pastor at a local church, and asked him to pray for her because she had Alzheimer’s. And he did. Right there in the parking lot.
She asked me during a rough moment a few weeks ago how people do this, knowing what the outcome looks like. She said this road is harder to walk down than any book or movie depicted…even more so than she ever imagined. She laughed and said, “Alzheimer’s ain’t for sissies, that’s for sure.” I reminded her that since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, we are called to run with endurance the race God has set before us. (I’m not good at quoting Scripture, but I do love this verse from Hebrews).
She flashed me a small, teary, yet brave smile, took a long sip from her trusty water bottle, and said quietly, “You’re right. And I am not a quitter…”
Sharing moments like that from her is why we are doing this…so the great cloud of witnesses out there can see what it looks like to run a race that truly requires an endurance we should all aspire to.
