One Time God Showed Me
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28
A lot of people have challenges with Romans 8:28. If you are one of them, I want to tell you that you are not alone. I also want to share with how God used a unique and challenging situation to show me that He is in control, and all things do work for the good of those who love Him.
I mean there are just certain things that are hard to imagine as being able to work for the good of anyone or anything. One example would be Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia. Watching someone with a relatively functioning body unable to remember basic tasks required for living is extremely challenging. This can make many question how all things can “work for the good of those who love the Lord.”
My mother-in-law (Kaye -Kaye) died in October 2018. At the time, both she and my grandmother-in-law (Flossie) lived in the same nursing facility. As the family came in and out to spend the last days with Kaye-Kaye there many concerns and fears, one of which was the impact this would have on Flossie. Not only was she dealing with her own health issues, dementia, and other factors, losing a daughter is agreeably one of the hardest things for a mom.
After several days, during one of those “could be any minute” moments, Flossie was brought in to tell Kaye-Kaye goodbye. The room was quiet but it is likely had the same fearful question in their mind – how is she going to respond? She was calm and pleasant, but as we had learned in dealing with this horrible disease , things can change in a moment’s notice.
Kaye passed in the very early hours of the morning and by that time Flossie had fallen asleep. The following day when the news was shared she was sad, but her reactions were not exactly what anyone expected. It was clear she understood what had happened, but what was not clear was how she was coping so well.
Prior to this Flossie had found a “life-like” doll in a mail order catalog . She may have mentioned a few times (or more) how she would like to have it. Well, it had been ordered , and just as God had planned, it arrived the day after Kaye-Kaye passed. While the doll was not intended as a replacement, the hope was it would bring a tiny moment of happiness during a very rough week. As soon as she received it a “childlike” approach to things appeared.
Flossie named her Ashley Kaye and she cared for it just as a little girl would care for a new doll. She talked to her, she dressed her, she showed her to everyone that came by. Flossie even took Ashley Kaye to the funeral. As shown in this picture taken that very day, even on one of the darkest of days God showed her (and all of us for that matter) a little bit of good.
Flossie and Ashley Kaye
In the months after Kaye-Kaye passed, Flossie returned to her normal, age appropriate, personality. She was able to move on from the loss without hindering her own emotional health. God had used this horrible disease to help her maneuver a very challenging time. The old comforting memories of childhood, either her own her perhaps Kaye Kaye’s, kept her company while the memory of the current moment escaped her thoughts.
I am not saying that I understand the purpose or reason God puts some through diseases like this, but I can say that there is no doubt He is in control.
This past December Flossie was called to heaven where she joined Kaye-Kaye and the many other loved ones that has gone on before her. I miss them both but am so grateful the role they played in the lesson where God showed our family that ALL things, even those that are not pleasant and challenging, can be used by Him for good to those who love Him and are called to His purpose.
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