I have been caring for family members with dementia now for several years. I have studied the medical and scientific causes and the probable trajectory of the disease. I have witnessed the precious memories become jumbled and disappear. I have read that it can be genetic. That's why this prayer from Kierkegaard struck me so forcefully. Let everything else happen, O Lord, if it be your will, but let me not forget You!
"And if Thou dost permit us to know the many magnificent secrets of science, do not let us forget the one thing necessary; and if Thou dost desire to extinguish our vigor of mind or if Thou dost let us grow old on earth so the our soul gets weary, one thing there is that can never be forgotten, even if we forget all else, that we are saved by Thy son." -- Kierkegaard, The Prayers of Kierkegaard
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins … Psalm 103:2-3
"forget": to mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention, forget.
Mary ... sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said … "few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:39, 42 1
Photo by L. Dillon
1Definition from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
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