Never Saw It Coming

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)When my father passed away in 2019, it was the first time in my parents’ 57 years of marriage that my mother would be alone. We had assured my father not to worry, that my four brothers and one sister and I would take care of her.We were all taught that in the first year we should let the grieving grieve. So, we let our mother do that and, like we promised our dad, we were there for her. In 2020, I started to notice a change in my mom. I didn’t think much of it, but the signs became clearer. In 2022, my mom was diagnosed with dementia. At first, we didn’t know what to expect, and it was hard learning how this neurological disease was robbing our mother of her memory.This was a very dark time of my life, as the woman who I have always looked up to was slowly disappearing. In the beginning I cried many nights, almost becoming consumed in grief. During those times I cried out to the Lord to help my family and I through the journey we were about to take.Now, as I awake in the mornings after a year of her diagnosis, I am thankful that my mother is still with us, in spite of her illness. I am also thankful that, because of her own faith, someday she will become whole again in reunion with my dad and the loved ones that have gone before her—in the presence of God Himself.This illness has reminded me to lean on God for His strength. He has never left us, and we continue trusting in His love. This is not the end, but the beginning of something beautiful. Today I just continue to keep trusting God’s faithful love for us.– Laurie Wood Ducharme   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org