"Oh Charles, I am so ugly! How can you look at me like this?" As she said this, she touched her cheek as if indicating some sort of blemish.
“Oh Nanny, you are beautiful, and always will be!” I said to her.
“But, how can you say that when my face is all covered with scars this way!”
As she said this her eyes filled with tears.
Now for those of you that don’t know and so you will better understand, Nancy is a beautiful lady, yes, she is beautiful, not only physically, but inside as well.
To her comment I responded... “What scars honey? I don’t see any scars!!”
Weeping now, she pointed at her face again as she said, “These scars that I got from the bear!”
“What bear sweetie?”
Exasperatingly she exclaimed, “The bear that attacked me today while I was walking in the woods!”
Now again, so you will better understand, my darling lady has been in a nursing home for the last eight years with Alzheimer's disease, and bed ridden for over two years.
In response to her comment about the bear I reached out, and, oh so gently, caressed her cheek as I said, “Sweetheart, the bear was a dream bear, and not real... believe me sweetie, you are beautiful!”
At this she smiled and said “REALLY, oh Charles, you do love me don’t you!
Dear Papa God, thank you for the fact that you love each of us in spite of our fear that all you'll see are scars by the claws of sin. Amen.
Charles Towne is, first and foremost, a Christian. An octogenarian, author, journalist, wildlife photographer, naturalist, caregiver, and survivor, his life has been, and continues to be, a never-ending adventure filled with possibilities never imagined. He has adopted the philosophy that to Live fully, laugh uproariously, love passionately, and learn like there is no tomorrow, is a formula for a long and joy-filled life.
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Richardmvelho
Dealing with the complexities of Alzheimer's is a minefield that you have learned to deal with with great compassion and empathy. That bear was so very real for NAN, and so were the scars, this is but one of the horrors that disease visits on its victims. God Bless you my friend because through your own natural insight and The Fathers help you not help your lovely lady, but many, many, other folks in similar situations as well!
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 Report this