Persistence & Perseverance

LIke waves crash against the retaining wall of a harbor, Ben thrashes against his disease and Thunderfoot hurls himself at us. Pound… pause... pound… pause... pound…

I am witnessing persistence. I am exercising perseverance. Both are worthy qualities to acquire. The Peel If you have been reading my blog posts, you know that every day is hard when caring for a person with dementia. Each day is filled with challenging interactions that feel like raging waves hitting against a wall in the midst of a storm. The wall cannot reduce the intensity of the waves, nor can it change their direction. The wall can only allow the waves to be themselves while protecting them from harming others. If Ben were living in an institution, he would likely be drugged into docility and have even less freedom than his disease affords him. Thunderfoot would not be allowed to show himself. I’m glad we can provide a place for him to wrestle against the elements while protecting those he loves. The storm is persistent. Day after day, crash after crash. Even on a calm day, we have to be prepared for a wave that might come raging in without warning. We persevere. The Fruit I actually admire Ben’s persistence. His technique is tragic, but his tenacity is a great example to us all. He won’t be told no or that something isn’t possible. He is determined that “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” He’s grateful for anyone taking steps to help him on the path he has set out for himself. He has tunnel vision for what he is trying to accomplish and can’t compute anything that opposes it. Through perseverance, we are learning a lot about life, love and the Lord. I’m glad for that. I’m also glad for how the Lord is developing in me endurance and steadfastness.

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Lord, you have given me a vision for persistence and perseverance. Teach me to be like Ben, but in prayer and faith. While this raging world crashes against me, it’s tempting to give up praying. But, I stand on the promise that you will make all things right someday. I desperately want the suffering to stop for us all, but it helps to know that in the future I will look back and know that you answered my prayers. James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (NLT)