Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
Several weeks ago, my Mom, Leona, who is 96 years old, experienced some traumatic convulsions. My niece, Laura, who she lives with, took her to the hospital where the doctors were attempting to determine what was going on with her. She was shaking and moaning, and they thought she was having seizures. She has dementia, and it is very difficult to converse with her due to her memory loss.
When they finally got her in a room, they told Laura that my Mom might never be able to speak again. The doctors and nurses left the room, and Laura started singing hymns to her. When the nurses returned, they were shocked to find my Mom perfectly calm and singing along with Laura. They never quite figured out what was going on with Mom and eventually sent her home.
I visited her and we sang together. As we finished the first verse of “In the Garden”, I wasn’t sure if we should sing the second verse, but that didn’t stop Mom. She sang the words of the second verse, leading us all to join in the wonderful tune.
It’s disheartening to have very little conversation with her, but it’s wonderful to know that the most important thing in life she remembers and cherishes dearly is her relationship with her Savior.