A Gentle Old Soul
A gentle old soul walked into the shop the other day and called out, “Is anybody at home?” I looked up to see a precious friend of mine and almost everyone in the community. I asked, “Can I help you?” By the way he answered, I recognized he was lost in the fog of Alzheimer’s disease. He told me he was looking for his wife, and I knew she was probably frantically looking for him.
Putting my hand on his shoulder, I walked with him to where his family was. As he shuffled along, he talked about things that only he understood. He kept telling me he had something for me and that he was going to take care of me. I wish I could have made him understand that he truly was giving me something very precious. You see, Alzheimer’s had taken my daddy and as I walked with this gentle old soul, I felt as if I was walking with my daddy once again.
In Genesis, there is a story of a man named Enoch. The story goes that Enoch walked with God every day. But one day Enoch could not be found, because that day God took him home to heaven. Now I think that like Enoch, those who suffer from Alzheimer’s walk close to God in ways you and I cannot understand. As these gentle old souls shuffle along on their last journey, I think that God walks with them. He listens to their jumbled words and untangles their confused thoughts. Then one day they are no longer here, their journey has ended. God has taken them home.
A gentle old soul with Alzheimer’s has much to give as they walk their last mile. It is easy for us who are mere mortals to be impatient and misunderstanding in their presence. But if we listen to their rambling stories, we might hear a conversation with God. If we put a hand on their shoulder and walk with them, we might find ourselves walking with The Father. I truly believe that God sent this gentle old soul into the shop the other day so I could walk with my daddy one more time.
“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:5-6 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.11.5-6.NKJV
Douglas & Deborah Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
Email- douglas@pavementendsministry.com
What an impactful post. I republished this on my own blog, because it was so meaningful Thank you for sharing.
This is so sweet! And as I read it, it took me back to the last times I was with my father. Thank you so much for sharing it.
One of my first blog pieces was on this subject, too.
http://seekingdivineperspective.com/2018/08/10/perspective-on-alzheimers/