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*All of Her, All of Him*
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Today's story deals with a subject that is affecting our lives more and more. Most likely all of us have a relative, friend, or acquaintance who is battling Alzheimer's. May Roger Cook's story touch your heart in a special way...
From my family to yours,
Michael
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Cal-Con Corner (Stories about our two little boys!)
One day when Caleb was three years old, he looked up at me and said in his long and drawn out fashion, "Daddddy, when I grooowww up, I want to be a girrrlll, so I can play BASKETBALL!!"
I had to explain to him that boys play basketball, too, but I guess three years of coming to the girls' practices at Clinton High School have made an impression on him.
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All of Her, All of Him
By Roger Cook
My mother was the secretary of her church for over thirty years and was well known for her Godliness and sharp memory. She spent the last decade of her working life teaching typing, shorthand and business courses at the Christian school where I am the administrator. She walked with the Lord on a daily basis and was constantly leaving me notes about a special discovery she had made in her study of the Bible. The last year she taught, we began to see problems with her short-term memory and by the end of the year we knew that something was wrong. That something was Alzheimer's disease. She has gradually slipped into a mental fog that has robbed her of the ability to speak or do things that require a sequence of steps. Although she cannot presently read her Bible or utter a simple prayer, I believe her communion with her Lord is in a language that cannot be written with mortal pen nor spoken by mortal tongue. God is near to her through this earthly trial and will bring her to the home He has prepared for her in the time He has chosen. He does all things well.
She had the sharpest of minds.
With a memory clear and strong
In the latter years began to fade,
Showing something was wrong.
Having given so many years
Of faithful service to her Lord,
Difficulties were hard to accept.
Symptoms couldn't be ignored.
The simple steps in a sequence
Became a challenge to complete.
The diagnosis was confirmed
As faculties started to retreat.
Then stepped forward a hero.
His love empowered by grace,
As he met the needs of his wife
By giving her care first place.
"There is nothing I will spare
In money, effort, and attention
For this one I love so deeply.
This is my solemn intention."
He cooks and cleans and attends
To her personal needs and more.
His tender patience displayed
Only more difficulties in store
Oh what a disheartening disease!
It takes away the use of the mind
And one's ability to know and do,
Leaving such limited use behind.
God's grace is always available
As we face the hardships of life,
And a husband joyfully commits
To the long term care of his wife.
How long will his strength last
As the burdens continue to rise.
The years and his health will tell-
None of us can really surmise.
For now her sweetness shows
Though her future might look dim.
While Alzheimer's has all of her,
Blessedly, she has all of him.
God knows all about these things
And the difficulties they imply.
His great love has a perfect will.
Only He has the answer to "Why?"
Now, her communion with the Lord
Cannot be written with mortal pen.
Someday she will have a new mind
And she will never struggle again.
Redeemed so many years earlier
When she invited the Savior within,
Soon Alzheimer's won't have any of her,
And she'll forever have all of Him.
And even to your old age I am He; and even to gray hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:4
(c) Roger Allen Cook
rkcook@comcast.net
Write to Roger and let him know your thoughts on his story!
Roger has been a Christian educator and a minister for the past 30 years. He is happily married, has four children and two grandchildren, and enjoys writing and coaching high school girlÂ’s softball. He is the author of a book of devotional poetry entitled "Sailing by Grace" which is available at Amazon.com. Contact him at rkcook@comcast.net
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Thought For The Day:
"Urgent things are seldom important. Important things are seldom urgent."
Verse for the Day:
"Every prudent man deals with knowledge."--Proverbs 13:16
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"Silence can be an answer."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"The persons hardest to convince they're at the retirement age are children at bedtime."
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Tact is rubbing out a teammate's mistake instead of rubbing it in."
Writer's Thought For The Day:
"Manuscript: something submitted in haste and returned at leisure." --Oliver Herford
Deep Thought For The Day:
"You have to watch out for yourself, because nobody else is going to. Especially during dodgeball."
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MICHAEL T. POWERS
www.HeartTouchers.com
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business
Dear Michael,
I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the beautiful video you made for me! It was so special to see both of my parents in tears as they watched their children grow up in pictures before their eyes! I loved the way you made Estania's part set aside from the rest--that was the part that really got them! The music was beautiful. My mom kept blubbering, "What song is that?" I don't know how you did such a beautiful job with the video in such a short time. I really appreciate your doing it so quickly. You have a wonderful gift, and I thank God that you are using it to create such sentimental memories. I hope that I can find my niche like that in an area that I love. Your video gave us one of our most lasting Christmas memories! I hope yours was filled with moments to be treasured forever! Love, Trisha Silverhill, AL
Let me make you a video from your photos! Check out my video production business by visiting: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery
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