It Took Thirteen Years

What a glorious spring morning, bathed in sunshine and light!  We in Colorado have seemingly been waiting a long time for a day of warm sunshine with no wind. I planted seeds for my garden too early, and the tiny sprouts have been refusing to grow in the nighttime chill.  This next week is going to finally be the warmth we've awaited and I'm praising God! I'm praising Him also that He gave me an unexpected blessing in the midst of John's Dementia.  Let me give you the background.

There is a very excellent Chinese restaurant in our small country town and their garlic chicken is a treat I dearly love. But when John and I first married, thirteen and a half years ago, I took him there for lunch and a small mishap occurred. A waitress inadvertently spilled the little pot of hot tea on the table. No one was burned. No harm was done. But somehow it affected John very adversely and he vowed "never to go to that place again."  So, I have rarely gone to my favorite restaurant over these past years, because I usually only go out to eat if I am with him.  I would ask him every couple of years if we could go down the street for Chinese and he would always refuse. The spilled tea was a stuck memory for some reason. 

So, fast forward all these thirteen and a half years, I had an inconsolable craving for garlic chicken and so I put John in the car with me to run a few errands and then drove to the Chinese restaurant and parked. "Let's have lunch here!" I joyfully exclaimed. He stepped out of the car and looked at the building and said, "Are we going to eat here?" I nodded my head and took his arm and in we went. I ordered beef broccoli for him, something I know he has liked on past road trips.  He had no memory of this place. The steaming hot plates arrived and he wolfed down every last bite of food, commenting on how delicious it was! My heart was doing cartwheels as I silently marveled, "It took thirteen years - but now we can enjoy lunch here together!"

I guess we really do have to learn to WAIT for some things to be fulfilled in our lives; even something as small as eating your favorite Chinese food.  And the Lord shows me that there are even blessings in Dementia! Unpleasant old memories are gone - everything is new!

I wrote in my journal on May 4:  Spring is here although it's cold and rainy and even some snowy days. But I've been in the back yard sowing seeds, praying blessings over them to grow and be fruitful. I'm tending plants and as I wait and finally see tiny green sprouts emerge, the joy of God's increase will get me through the summer. 

Yet there is one more "little sprout" that's about to emerge into my life that will bring untold blessings. My great-grandson, whose name is Raymond Jackson, is due to be born on June 2!  In just a very few days he will make his debut and my life will be filled with new wonder and joy.  In the waiting we praise our Mighty God!

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
​Psalm 27:14