I am thinking that in life there are times where the bitter is mixed in with the sweet. Such was the year of 2010 for the Myers family.
We have experienced grief and sadness for the loss of the matriarch of the family, not through her death, but through the awful disease of aging, dementia and loneliness. She lost the love of her life in May 2009 and although she put up a good front, she has slowly disappeared from us. Each week over the last 3 months she continues to advance into late stages of losing the fight with who she is and who her body has forced her to become. I ache deeply when I see her eyes, that are vacant and shadowed with loneliness.
The things I remember are her gentle quiet spirit. She rarely spoke a harsh word about anything. She was the light in David's eyes and he treated her as if she was still that high school sweetheart. Sometimes I would catch a glimpse of their amazing warmth of their love. In fact, in David's last weeks of his life, before he was hospitalized - I was staying the night there to help take care of both of them, but especially Mom as she had become too much for Dad. (Not to mention he was dealing with grieving his own mortality) But, there they were... ready for bed. As I get Mom into bed, right beside Dad, they both roll to face each other grasping hand in hand for the last few glimpses of a life spent together in so much love. Mom pulled Dad's hand close, kissed it and spoke in the softest voice "I love you" and he responds the same but adds to it 'forever'. How amazing their lives were. What we could learn from their perseverance as they stood side by side and hand in hand in serving God's kingdom of believers, in counseling many a couple who's marriages were a tangled web of mistrust, or spending many a summer shaping young peoples lives with the work they did at the christian youth camps. They rarely missed an opportunity to be in fellowship at any type of gathering and their lives were examples unmatched by most of us. Lynda always standing by David, supporting him in everything he did and in all the times he would be away, visiting the sick, counseling, preaching, lecturing and teaching at colleges... she stood beside him. She was his rock, while he was busy being the rock to so many others.
Lynda is now in advanced stages of aging and hospice is now called in to help her make her transition. We were able to be with her for the holidays. We know that it will be the last of her opportunities to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and yes bringing in a New Year and her 84th birthday. But her memories of her life will go with her and God is preparing a sweet heavenly home for this woman who raised three most amazing children, all who continue the same legacy - as they too, have raised families that will stand the test of life!
Thank you Lynda for your gracious spirit, for your love of family, for your strong character of faith, for your ability to love someone into greatness as we see in your three children, your grandchildren and yes even your In-Laws. We are blessed by you, forever.
