8. When Love Faces Dementia: Jolene & Karl’s Journey

In this deeply moving episode of Grief Lifted: Rising Above Through Faith, we sit down with Jolene as she shares the tender and challenging journey of loving her husband Karl through dementia.With honesty and grace, Jolene opens her heart about the reality of anticipatory grief—the quiet, ongoing mourning that begins long before a loved one passes on. She reflects on the emotional weight of watching the person you love slowly change, while still holding onto the deep connection that remains.Through moments of heartbreak, resilience, and unwavering faith, this conversation reminds us that even in the valley, God is present—even when it feels like we’re walking alone.It brings to mind the beautiful promise in the Footprints in the Sand poem… that in the hardest moments, when we only see one set of footprints, it is then that He is carrying us.This episode is for anyone walking alongside a loved one with dementia, navigating loss in real time, or searching for hope in the midst of uncertainty.✨ You are not alone. ✨ Your grief is seen. ✨ And even here—there is still love. ✨ And when the path feels too heavy… He will carry you.📖 Scripture for ReflectionPsalm 34:18Psalm 23:4Isaiah 41:10Matthew 11:28Footprints in the Sand by Mary StevensonOne night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you.”Episode referenced: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grief-lifted-rising-above-through-faith/id1879623311RSS Feed: https://media.rss.com/grief-lifted-rising-above-through-faith/feed.xmlConnect with me further: Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/griefliftedpodcast/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/grief_lifted_podcast/Email Me: [email protected]