Jog the Memory

I have only one grandparent still living on planet earth. He is 91 years old. His name is Taylor and he lives in a nursing home near Knoxville, TN. He suffers from dementia and can no longer walk. At times when I visit him he has trouble recalling if I am married or if I have kids.

Apparently, as you get older, it is easier to remember what happened long ago than it is to remember what happened five minutes ago.

This weekend I visited my Grandpa. There he sat in his wheelchair just outside his bedroom. Ball cap on. Cotton gloves on. head bent forward taking a nap. He was happy to see us. His mind was quite clear. My husband and I decided to take Grandpa out. I could have never done this by myself and I am too whimpy to pick up the wheelchair, let alone Grandpa. He had not been out of that hallway - out of that room - in six months. He just wanted to make sure it was warm enough and if it was, he was all for an outing.

We got him in the car and took him to... Home Depot! I know. That is kinda weird, but it was the perfect place for a former carpenter. A man who knows all too well the smell of sawdust. A master builder.

We wheeled Grandpa through the automatic door as he is commenting on how big the place is. It's the first time my Grandfather had been inside a store in about 10 years. We told him the price of a 2x4 and he exclaimed that a person would have to be a millionaire to build a house with prices like that! Grandpa built his first house for $300.00 in 1938.

Then we rolled him to the most logical isle... the tools.

One by one I took the tools off the shelf. And I placed them in his aged hands. And I challenged him to guess what they are. You see, Grandpa is almost blind. He has macular degeneration and can mainly see shapes and shadows. But with his hands he gently moved along the surface of a measuring tape, a hammer, a Phillips Head screwdriver... and with each tool he guessed correctly! His face was alive and so was his mind. He loved every moment. So did we. It was humbling to see such an able man so weak with age, yet empowering to unlock his mind with all things familiar to his hands.

I believe God does this with us... when we have been very crippled by sin. When we are blind to the Truth right infront of us... God will often take us on an outing. He allows us to touch the familiar and gives us an opportunity to reawaken the memories of what it was like when we walked so closely with Him. When we were able to run and create for Him.

And He calls us back to health.

Back to Life.

Back to a hunger for what brought us joy and peace.

Back to HIMSELF.

Our visit awakened memories for my Grandfather but he will never again be able to use those tools with his hands. Soon he will be called to his heavenly home. He will dance with the King of Kings and lay a beautiful crown at his feet. My Grandpa's mind and body may be slowly dying, but his spirit is wide awake!

As we were leaving the Home Depot parking lot, my Grandfather gently spoke these words "You know, the Bible says that eyes hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things the Father has prepared for those that love Him. And boy am I looking forward to seeing that I tell ya!"

While WE have breath in our lungs and heath - let's build for Him with the tools He has places in our hands. Let's not allow the enemy to distract us from the work - from the relationship with the Father. It's the only way to ward off spiritual dementia and stay healthy.

Thankfully, my Grandfather's life has taught me the value of building for the Kingdom!

Build on!