I was working on a post with a different topic but the bittersweetness of today begs to be shared.

“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey”. Kenji Miyazawa

It is my mother in law Ann’s 80th birthday. She has Alzheimer’s.

I hate Alzheimer’s. But I love Ann.

So I’m going to be there even though she won’t understand we are celebrating her.

I will be there like the great silver wolf in the story of Barrington Bunny. (click for the story on YouTube)

“When someone is going through a storm, your silent presence is more powerful than a million, empty words.”

― Thema Davis

I plan to bring a cupcake and hope she can eat it.

If she can’t, that’s ok. We will have ice cream – I know she can eat that. She loves ice cream.

Sometimes she’s aware that she knows me. Sometimes not.

My last visit she said she missed me and I got a hug. It had been a very long time since that had happened.

I hope today I can make her laugh. She loves to laugh.

On my way home I might cry.

That’s ok.

I’m burning the fuel of pain.

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. - Kenji Miyazawa Share on X

Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity,

the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve. – Earl Grollman

Grief is the last act of love we can give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief there was great love. – unknown

Grief doesn’t always go away, but by his grace, grief is not so beastly after all. – Jolene Underwood

What next

I wrote a short story about our journey through Alzheimer’s with Ann. It helps others process complex emotions.

Grab a copy on Kindle here.

Danielle Bernock

Author, Coach, and Speaker helping men, women, and organizations EMERGE with clear vision of their value, TAKE ownership of their choices, and CHART a path to their promise, becoming Victorious Souls who Embrace The Change from survive to thrive through the power of the love of God

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