Day 35 of Lent: We May Forget Ourselves, but God Will Never Forget Us

Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb?  Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.  See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.
 Isaiah 49: 15-16

Our longevity has led to the growing challenges of maintaining quality of life amid the many chronic illnesses we have such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.  Many persons fear becoming victims of the technology intended to sustain and support life.  Words that were unknown to our grandparents strike terror in our hearts as we imagine our helplessness, vulnerability, and forgetfulness.

In many ways, Alzheimer's disease embodies many of our deepest fears--the loss of memory, reason, speech, and self-awareness.  Tragically, the progression of Alzheimer's disease eventually robs us of our self-awareness and the ability to remember our own personal stories.  We may forget who we are and who we have been in the course of our unique personal adventure.

God never forgets us, nor does God quit working in our lives.  All things are treasured in the divine memory.  As the one to whom all hearts are open and all desires are known, God experiences each moment from the inside as well as from the prospective of its external relationships.  If God is truly omnipresent and active, then God is also present within the experience of persons with Alzheimer's disease.

We often experience God in our sighs too deep for words.  God is loving and faithful, even when we can no longer remember who we are.  God's enduring love and unfailing memory remind us that we can believe on behalf of others, and others can believe on behalf of us.  We can heal them with our healing words and touch and by singing hymns of faith with them.  With awareness that God never forgets, we can accept our fears of the future and experience God's healing touch when we are most fearful of what tomorrow may bring.

Affirm for yourself:
Regardless of state of mind, God loves me.
I am God's beloved child in every season of life.
Regardless of health conditions, God loves me.

Prayer:
Holy companion, help me to experience your unfailing love in health and illness, in success and failure.  Help me to listen for your presence in my inner voice, through unexpected moments of inspiration, and through the care of others.  Help me to know that you are always with me and that  nothing can separate me from your love in Christ Jesus, our Savior and Healer.  Amen.