Mr. and Mrs. Hill are the most adorable elderly couple you'd ever want to meet – and I should know; I've met them at our church maybe 15 times. The Hills are in their late 80s and a year or so ago, their daughter placed them in Alzheimer's facility not far from our church. This dear couple -- they are really struggling with the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. And when I wheel up to them after Sunday services, they always smile and say, "Well, hello dear, and what's your name?" And at least 15 times I've said, "I'm Joni, Mrs. Hill, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
I guess that’s to be expected when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease. As Christians, when we encounter people like Mr. and Mrs. Hill, it should call forth our deepest compassion, inspire us to provide practical supports, and encourage us to invest in ethically-based preventative research. But not everyone feels that way. In our society, we are beginning to see a slight, a very subtle cynicism toward those are affected by this disease.
Listen to this article in the newspaper. It’s by syndicated columnist Peter Gott describing the end stages of Alzheimer’s disease – he writes, “[It] eventually ends in a catastrophe: extreme confusion, loss of judgment, inability to recognize loved ones, belligerency, and the failure to be able to carry out everyday chores and activities of daily living (including bathing, dressing, and eating). In the truest sense of the word, the advanced Alzheimer’s patient has lost all the qualities that make him or her human.”
Wow! I wonder how many people read that article and never notice that last line. According to the columnist, if you can stay focused, if you have good judgment, if you connect with your family, be cooperative, complete your chores, and take care of yourself—then you are human. If you can’t—then you are not. How many typical teenagers do you know who could meet those criteria, right?
Sometimes we all make the mistake of evaluating others on the basis of what they can and cannot do… how they perform in society, what they contribute. We judge people’s worth – even one’s humanity – based on their ability to function, think, talk, and relate to others. How many individuals with profound developmental disabilities could meet those criteria?
I thought of this when I saw Mr. and Mrs. Hill at church again last weekend. Perhaps by this time next year, they will be even more confused. They might not even recognize each other, let alone me. But that doesn’t make them any less human. Psalm 9:18 says, “… the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.” And may God give Mr. and Mrs. Hill – may God give us all – grace to remember that.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
© Joni and Friends