Lengthy farewells

"Alzheimer's is just another name for a long goodbye," Nancy Reagan reportedly observed.
Doctors warned us that Alzheimer's is a terrible illness that steals your pride and dignity.
Some patients act like children, according to the nurses, and others regress to their younger years.
We have all expressed our affection for her, but despite our words, she has changed and is no longer the same.

The physicians were mistaken, as you can see; you can never take away our mother's pride or dignity.
By asking us to give her a bath, put on clothes, and provide for her, did she lose her respectability?
I disagree since she went above and above for us.

The nurses were worried that Mom would regress to her younger years.
How many of you, though, would want to return to being five if you could?
To recall the lovely clothes your grandmother made especially for you, the modest home you grew up in, or perhaps to recall the close buddy you have been missing so much.
Hence, perhaps being five again wasn't all that horrible.

She has changed; she just isn't the same, we have all stated or at least thought.
But Mom's affection remained the same despite having Alzheimer's.
Mom's love remained constant.

So perhaps Nancy Reagan was correct.
Alzheimer's is a painful farewell.
But I give God praise for the extra time.
Time to cherish and honor her instead of saying goodbye, as she did for us.

Hence, we say goodbye for the time being, Mother, but only for a short while, for there are no "long goodbyes" in heaven.
There is only eternity in heaven.