“Show honor to older people." ~ Leviticus 19:32
For as long as Rachel could
remember, she’d spent every Saturday with her Grams. She loved their time together. Grams always seemed to make the world a
little softer, a little kinder, a little warmer. One day Grams asked, “Would you like to see
my garden? We can relax there and make
daisy chains.” When the young girl
looked confused, Grams quickly replied: “I’ll
show you. It’s lovely to sit in the
garden on a bright summer day and make something pretty to wear.”
So they spent the afternoon in a garden bursting with roses
and lilies and sunflowers making daisy chains. It was great fun!
As summer leaves turned brown, the daisies disappeared. One Saturday, Grams asked, “Would you like to
help rake the leaves?”
“Why?” asked Rachel.
“It’s fun on a cool autumn day to rake leaves into a big
pile and play in them.”
So Grams showed Rachel how to rake leaves. Then they spent the afternoon rolling and jumping
in them. It was great fun!
As winter approached and snow blanketed the landscape, Grams
asked Rachel, “Would you like to make hot cocoa?”
“What’s hot cocoa?” asked Rachel.
“It’s a warm chocolate drink perfect for taking the chill
out of a cold winter’s day.”
They filled their cups so full that marshmallows spilled
onto the floor. Then they spent the
afternoon snuggling in front of a crackling fire, sipping hot cocoa and reading
all their favorite books. It was great
fun!
As spring arrived and days became warmer, Grams asked,
“Would you like to go to the playground for some fresh air and exercise?”
“Huh?” asked Rachel.
“It’s so much fun swinging, and sliding and see-sawing on a
warm spring day.”
So as they skipped barefoot among the fresh clover, they
watched cardinals and blue jays and robins build new nests. It was great fun!
One Saturday, Rachel went to visit her Grams she said: “The
daisies are back! Can we go see the
garden and make daisy chains again?”
“Dear child, I’m so sorry!” Grams said. “Just as kids get colds and tummy aches,
older people sometimes get an illness that causes them to act differently and
to forget things. We look the same on
the outside, but the disease makes it hard for us to remember things. I’m afraid I don’t know how to make daisy
chains anymore.”
Rachel looked at her Grams and smiled. “Well, I do and I’ll
show you. It’s lovely to sit in the
garden on a bright summer day and make something pretty to wear.”
So Rachel and Grams spent the afternoon in her garden making
daisy chains. It was great fun! Love so pure and innocent; children are the
twinkle in God's eye.
“God of love, bless all who suffer from
Alzheimer's. Grant them peace in their
hearts, a secure environment, and dignity in their lives. May each day bring a blessing, hope, and
greater love. Amen
