Next month is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Caregiver Month. God bless both groups. I like this relatively new hymn at the end of this message, sung appropriately, to the tune of “Be Still My Soul.”

Dementia is a growing affliction. It’s the most spiritually and theologically challenging of all illnesses because it challenges our personhood. In our culture, when “I think therefore I am” is a philosophical foundation of what it means to be human, are we still persons when we can’t think? God says, emphatically, “Yes! You are my beloved child whom I have promised never to leave nor forsake.”

I believe there are great opportunities to show the Gospel truth of God’s love especially to persons suffering with dementia. The elderly lady asked, “What’s my name?” She was told and cheerfully replied, “Oh, that’s right. Half the time I don’t even know who I am.” But then she pointed to a cross on her wall and said, “But He does, and that’s all that counts.”

In situations like this, Bible verses about the importance of having a child-like faith as well as the Holy Spirit who prays for us when we can’t pray for ourselves, and so many others, become more than dry doctrine, but precious facts of life. The truth that faith is a gift, that God loves us not based on what we know or what we do becomes so comforting when we can’t do anything, when we don’t have anything, and when we really don’t know anything.

How appropriate to also lift up caregivers, those who are walking with a loved one suffering from this disease, or saints who work in nursing or memory facilities. God works through them to provide for the needs of others and may God give them patience and strength and stamina and an appreciation that they are doing His work as they provide the daily necessities of life for these individuals.

For all caregivers, this is an opportunity to love as God loves us, with little or no expectation of having that love returned. Caregiving often calls for heroic acts of forgiveness and self-sacrificing love. And may caregivers always be reminded that no act of love goes unnoticed. Even though the world may not notice or appreciate your act of kindness and love, God does, and God smiles. No act of love is ever wasted.

I hate dementia. I believe it is perhaps the most devastating affliction we can have. That’s why I am participating in the Great Bend Alzheimer’s Walk Oct. 17. The Ellsworth County Walkers have had one of the top teams the past few years. This year it will be done differently, but the need is no less. If you would care to participate, or if you would care to donate to me or the team, please let me know.

If you have a loved one suffering from dementia, visit them, regularly. Enter their world. Relax and love them patiently. Each of us needs to know we are loved.

For those who care for those suffering from dementia in their homes, may God grant you an extra measure of strength and patience and stamina. And also help and support from others so that you can care for yourself too.

For the person suffering from dementia as well as the caregiver, there is always this great Christian promise — this dementia will not have the final word. Ultimately, you and your loved one will leave behind careworn, earthly bodies and diseased minds and be reunited once again in perfected, spiritual, resurrected bodies.

God bless those with dementia as well as all caregivers.