I recently asked my dear friend, Cynthia Fantasia, to tell us the steps she has taken as she walks on her bold journey. This post was originally published in March, 2016. Be sure to read all the way to the end for an update from Cynthia. #BeBoldGirl
Retirement! The word itself conjured up all sorts of amazing dreams and plans: travel, lots of grandkids time, long walks on the beach (in Maine, of course), leisurely breakfasts with my husband, cleaning out the cellar, and a myriad of other “when I have time” things. Just thinking about “when” brought a smile to my face.
Alzheimer’s Disease! These two little words came like a race car careening out of control – crashing into my life, my dreams, my plans.
It’s been two years since Bob’s diagnosis, my retirement, and the readjustment to a very uncertain future.
Two years for an extroverted, Type A personality, loves to be busy woman to learn some really hard lessons and to take some really bold steps in order to embrace what I am learning and what He is teaching me.
In the beginning, I felt like I was on one of those twirly rides at Disney World – lots of fun at the amusement park – not so much in real life. “Just hang on for dear life and eventually the spinning will stop,” I told myself.
Hang on, I did, and the spinning did slow down to a pace where I could decide that NO, I was not going to let the locusts eat this season. God would restore this time in His own way and my job was to follow Him one step at a time. That’s all He asks of me. My daily prayer is:
God, You got me into this and I know that You will get me through it.
He has, He is, and I know that He will.
There are several life lessons that have emerged – lessons that I need to learn over and over.
It takes a village…
Caregiving is a tough job. The hours are long and the work is steady. One of the hardest lessons has been learning to make that bold “ask” for help. I continue to remind myself of the words from James 4:2
“You do not have because you do not ask.”(NKJV)
So, I took those bold steps and Bob now has walking companions, lunch buddies, and coffee “dates” giving me a bit of a break, and “Team Bob” actually thanks me for the opportunity to help!
I don’t live in Kansas anymore
Everything in my life has changed, and if I am going to survive I need to roll with the changes. Those long walks on Maine beaches are now short walks around our neighborhood. We have met neighbors we never knew, admire gardens so unlike ours, and made pals with several dogs. There is life outside of “Kansas.”
A soft answer turns away wrath
It does no good to argue with Bob, so I “climb” into his world and his story. I don’t have to be right all the time, don’t have to correct every little thing, and sometimes his tales are far more exciting that the original.
Love isn’t what you get, it’s what you give
Enough said!!
I am NOT alone
There are some women who have become very close friends. We have been drawn together through the unlikely circumstances that have placed us on the same journey. We “get” each other. One special friend sent me a link to Fernando Ortega’s “Take Heart My Friend.” It truly describes the need for a traveling companion along this hard journey filled with bold lessons:
“Take heart my friend, we’ll go together
This uncertain road that lies ahead
Our faithful God has always gone before us
And He will lead the way once again
Take heart my friend, we can walk together
And if our burdens become too great
We can hold up and help one another
In God’s love, in God’s grace.”
We remind one another of words from the chorus that He is “our assurance every morning, our defender in the night.”
And so I continue to take shaky, but bold, steps along this hard journey, walking in holy confidence and humble obedience, assured that He will continue to walk with me teaching me even more lessons along the way.
June, 2017 Update
I find it very interesting that I have written about being bold. I looked up the definition of “bold” and it reads as follows:
showing an ability to take risks; confident; courageous.
The risks that I have experienced, the “art” of being bold, have not been my choice. My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in January 2014, and after a valiant battle, Bob changed his address from earth to heaven October 18, 2016.
Coming together in a perfect storm, I had to take bold steps by selling our home of 40 years, moving into my son’s home for the foreseeable future, planning a memorial service, and learning that my life was now “I” not “we”, “me” not “us”, “my” not “our”, and a variety of other new truths that took me by surprise.
I previously wrote about being bold and learning lessons along the way. During the last two weeks of my husband’s earthly life the Lord taught me lessons I never imagined possible. I learned that He is sufficient for ALL journeys, that He is provider, that He is loving, and that is an amazing guide.
When I re-read my original entry I smiled as I read my words
“My job is to follow God one step at a time. That’s all He asks of me.”
So very true! One step at a time He led me to a grief mingled with gratitude, to a place of trust for all the days to come, and to an understanding of joy in the midst of sadness.
He continues to surprise me with incredible bold opportunities: at this time I am writing a book for NavPress about Bob’s and my journey through Alzheimer’s. My hope is to honor Bob and offer care and comfort to caregivers still on this journey. Bold – you bet! Nervous – you bet! Excited – you bet! Humbled – absolutely! Not the book I ever planned to write but He asks me to follow Him one step at a time – and I will.
Linking up with Kelly Balarie at #RaRaLinkup, Jaime Weibel at #SittingAmongFriends, Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeart and Crystal Storms at #IntentionalTuesday, Kelly Balarie at #RaRaLinkup, Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeart