Reviving our Memory

Read:  John 21:1-11

I loved my Dad.  He loved being active, helping people, and an amazing man of faith.  Back in the year 2000, he and my Mom moved from their home in Northwest Ohio into a Condo near my sister and I here in Columbus.

In their new Condo, Dad set up a little wood working shop in his garage where he made things, especially things he could give away as mementos of his faith.  His favorite thing to make was crosses.  When he was in conversations with people, he would often ask, “Do you have a cross in your home?”  And the follow up question, “If I give you one, will you put it up?”  Many of the people my Dad touched still have one of his crosses in their home.

As he aged, slowly his memory started to fail.  First it started small, like not remembering what he had had for lunch, or what time it was. Before long he was having times where he had fallen and did not remember what happened.  At one point, my Mom started getting scared when he would come in from the garage and say, “Someone else’s car is in our garage.” 

In April of 2010, we as a family decided to help my parents move into assisted living.  Over the next few years, my Dad’s condition became worse and worse. Our worst fears were realized when they diagnosed him with Alzheimer’s disease.  Things were disappearing from their apartment, like his glasses, or my Mom’s dentures, only to find out that he had hidden them or thrown them away.  He would ask my Mom the same questions over and over like, “Where is Mother?”

The assisted living facility would plan special activities for the residence. One of their favorite events was when the singing group called “Black Hat” would come play for them.  This precious couple, Jimmy and Eve, brought their talent of music, song and love to the residence.  In the first few years, my Dad would joyfully participate in their sing-a-longs to the oldies. But as his Alzheimer’s progressed, he could no longer read nor remember the words, so he would just fall to sleep.

One day, when the “Black Hat” came, I had the opportunity to join my parents.  As they went through their repertoire, my Mom sang along, and Dad quietly listened, a little distracted.  When they started with their gospel songs, to my amazement, when they began with , “Jesus Loves Me” soon I heard my Dad’s baritone singing voice bellowing out the words.

 “Jesus Love me this I know, for the Bible tells me so,

Little Ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong!!”

Recalling this now brings tears to my eyes.

Just like in today’s Bible reading, we often get spiritually forgetful.  We don’t recognize the voice of Jesus when He is calling out to us “Friends, do you have any _______?”

Then He softly tethers Himself to our memory banks, awakening a part of our soul that we thought was lost and long gone. There He is waiting for us, drawing us to Himself, and reassuring us that He will NEVER leave or forsake us!

When you hear Him calling you today, don’t resist.  Don’t tell yourself you are only imagining it, or that you are too busy.  He is there waiting for you.  Listen to His voice calling You!