A Birthday Visit

 

When the birthday of our friend, Ms. E* came around, Al and I paid a visit to her rehabilitation facility. Not sure if she had any family close by, we wanted her to know that people were thinking of her on her birthday.

After signing in at the front desk, we walked down a long hallway looking for the memory care ward where she resides.  Some of the residents in the large facility need therapy before being discharged to their homes, while others are there permanently. Ms. E. has, in her own words, “been there a long time!”

Although Al and I had been to see her previously, we took a wrong turn and found ourselves at a dead-end. A staff member pushing a cart full of dishes redirected us. Maybe next time, we’ll remember!

In order to enter or leave the ward, it was necessary to type a code into a keypad on the wall. Neither of us remembered that either; however, another helpful employee met us at the heavy double doors and typed in the code, which I should have recorded in the cell phone!

The room was quiet when we entered. We walked past a bed where an elderly woman was resting, and around the curtain that separated one bed from another. Was Ms. E. awake, I wondered? Her eyes were open when we came into her half of the room.

 I greeted her and told her who we were. She didn’t realize that we had met before, but that was understandable. Although her long-term memory was still good, it was the short-term memory that was problematic. We could relate!

 “Is it your birthday today?” I asked.

 “Yes it is!” she said nodding and smiling. Ms. E.  proceeded to tell us her age, with wonder in her voice. “How did it happen?” she asked. “Time really flies by!”

After a feeble attempt at singing “Happy Birthday” we gave her a homemade card with the picture of a smiley golden retriever on the front. She raised herself up on one elbow to read the words, written in large print with a black marker.

“Now who are you again?” Ms. E.  asked.

She apologized for not remembering, but we assured her that we understood. I showed her the signatures on the bottom of the card. “Oh!” she responded. Then she put it away in her small nightstand, within reach of the bed.

 Perhaps the picture of the dog stirred memories of a cocker spaniel whom she loved when she was growing up. Her family had three dogs. She listed her brothers and their pets by name. “But, mine was special,” she said.

We got to talking about the weather, how it was getting colder. Ms. E.  observed that it had snowed sometime during the night! How did she know? She had briefly gotten up and had looked out of the window in the morning. The window…her only contact with the outside world other than the staff and occasional visitors.

            I shared that one of our neighbors had switched on the outdoor lights lining the rooftop of his house. With the snow falling and the lights twinkling, it seemed like Christmas already! She smiled.

“Can we pray with you?” I asked before leaving.

“Sure,” she said, reaching for my hand. Then, after the prayer, “I love you.”

And we love her too. Although saddened by her circumstances, her contentment is inspiring. “I have my memories,” Mrs. E told us. Yes, she has the memories that really matter.

How thankful I am for the blessings of good health, family, friends, and most importantly for the promise that the Lord will be with us as we walk through the unforeseen changes of life.

When Joshua faced the enormous assignment of leading the people of Israel into the land of Canaan, God gave him an order, along with a promise: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NIV)

The order? To be strong and courageous. The promise? That He would be with Joshua. As God was faithful in keeping His promise to Joshua, so He is faithful to all who trust Him. He loves us!

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6 NIV)

 

*name changed for privacy.