LEST WE FORGET

Despite it being a chilly morning, my husband and I set out for the Walk to End Alzheimers.
It warmed my heart to see men, women and children out in mass out for the same cause. People had colorful pinwheel flowers in honor, memory or in support of loved ones. They were placed in the ground in a make shift garden… if only the flowers could speak. The stories to be told far surpassed the people represented there. Today I want to speak on behalf of caregivers.

For those with the disease it is easy to forget to do the things they need to do or remember that they did them. Unfortunately, caregivers forget to do the things they need to do also. The most important thing is to take care of themselves. Yes, easier said than done, but it must be done.

You can consider yourself blessed if you are not related to one of the 80,000 people in South Carolina or the 5.2 million people in the US who are living with Alzheimers. On the other hand you can consider yourself a blessing if you helped someone who is. There are simple ways to help both the caregiver and/or the person with the illness: A visit, phone calls, taking them for a walk, run errands, help with child care, help with doctor’s appointments, bring over a meal, gift certificate for a massage, sitting to give caregiver a few hours break, listening.

People don’t want to talk about these things especially when it doesn’t affect them but lest we forget,
Alzheimers like many other diseases does not discriminate. So as we do what we can to take care of ourselves by exercising e and eating right we should also do what we can to support those plagued by the disease with a humility that “ but for the grace of God there go I.”

SEA SAW

A mix of sun, salt and sand hit my skin
as I took my seat at the edge of the sea
to watch it dance.
I was in awe to see there was no end to how wide
it would stretch. The Mom of the earth is the one
that can coax this large shape to sway with such grace.
I can not count the times it glides to and fro
nor how it lies still and runs deep.
I saw it leap high, take a bow and land on a huge rock.
With an arch in its back it claps:
it knows its own force, strength and worth.

PERFECTED PRAISE

“Halleluiah anyhow”! In her soft voice and in a spirit of praise that was the ending to many of my conversations with Masalena Bradford. I was adopted into her family when I moved to South Carolina almost 30 years ago. She had a way of being profound and funny. It kind of makes me think of ice cream and cake. Both are good all by themselves but together it’s a special treat and you can hardly get enough. Mama Masalena was filled with wisdom and the word of God. The one thing that remains with me long after her passing is the idea of giving praise no matter your circumstance or situation.

“Halleluiah anyhow”! I have found myself saying it on occasion but Tanganyika Patterson showed me how to live it. Tangie was blessed to retire from AT&T after 30 years of service at the exciting age of 49. Unlike her work tenure, my friendship with her was short and sweet. It actually started one month after her retirement when she learned she had not 1 but 2 brain tumors. At that point, how many of us could fix our mouths to say, “halleluiah anyhow”!? Already prayed up and faith filled Tangie’s response in word and action was I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1)

Tangie believed God for a healing and was well aware that it could come on the other side. In the "mean time" of chemo, radiation and more bad news of another tumor in her colon, she meant what she said and said what she meant and praised God anyhow. Not once did she murmur or complain. There were times I called to uplift her and she wound up praying a powerful prayer for me. Such a precious child of God, such a prayer warrior… The scripture tells us in 1Corinthians 15:58, “be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Tangie lost her 15 month battle with the cancer 2 weeks ago and won eternity with the Lord; and for that I can say with a more perfected praise, “halleluiah anyhow”!

Loving Mother
I’ve been blessed to have had countless remarkable women in my life through my stages, ages and phases; first of which was Cynthia Eloise Allen. I have absolutely no memory of our first meeting, but according to her we bonded immediately. That was the beginning of a mother and daughter relationship that I will cherish forever.
For the most part who I am is because of who she was. Many other wise and nurturing women also had a hand in shaping and molding me. I will be sharing with you some of their “sayings”. At the time they may have seemed funny or vague but by and by, as the elders would say, I have come to see the wisdom.
Because I don’t know any better, I believe a good mother-daughter relationship is priceless. Each day that you have together should bring a greater appreciation. So as a tribute to my natural and adopted mothers who came before me and stood beside me, I want you to know how much I love and appreciate you.
Fancy Footsteps
For ages little girls tried to walk in their mother’s shoes. It is true, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But if the truth be told, I can never walk in your shoes. It is not for me to go where you have already been. But it is what you learned and passed on to me that makes my journey so worthwhile. Thank you for showing me the way.
Kathryn Preston
WWW.RKORIGINALIMAGES.COM