 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Wife with Dementia
Dear Rick,
I met a fellow that goes to our church. His wife is in the mental ward
and her life expectancy is about a year. He and his 8 year old
daughter go to visit her, and she looks out the window or into space.
She has dementia. He was telling me that he has lost all love for her.
His daughter wants a new mommy.
Can you tell me what the Bible says that would fit into this problem?
Sincerely,
Wondering whether he should move on
Dear Wondering,
The man should hold his horses. If his wife dies in a year, there will
be plenty of time for their daughter to get her "new mommy" later.
New mommies aren't always what they are cracked up to be anyway,
the daughter should be told.
As far as the Bible, I think that God still tells husbands to love their
wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). Such a love we
are told bears all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). Sounds like the
husband is in short supply of bear.
The husband's loss of love really has little to do with the state of the
girl's mother. He just "lost" his love. Love is his responsibility; if
he wants to love his wife, he can. He can be grateful for the good
memories he has had with her. He can be grateful for the girl with
whom she blessed him. He can make efforts to serve her in bringing
food to her, providing her with company, and comforting her.
I sure admire Nancy Reagan standing by her husband in his
dementia. Some of my best times with my dad occurred after he lost
some of his faculties. The eight year old daughter's desire to get a
"new mommy" suspiciously seems to correlate with dad's loss of love.
A man in this case should "man up," thereby teaching his daughter
by his example innumerable positive character qualities, starting
with faithfulness and kindness.
In His steps,
Rick
Dear Rick,
I met a fellow that goes to our church. His wife is in the mental ward
and her life expectancy is about a year. He and his 8 year old
daughter go to visit her, and she looks out the window or into space.
She has dementia. He was telling me that he has lost all love for her.
His daughter wants a new mommy.
Can you tell me what the Bible says that would fit into this problem?
Sincerely,
Wondering whether he should move on
Dear Wondering,
The man should hold his horses. If his wife dies in a year, there will
be plenty of time for their daughter to get her "new mommy" later.
New mommies aren't always what they are cracked up to be anyway,
the daughter should be told.
As far as the Bible, I think that God still tells husbands to love their
wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). Such a love we
are told bears all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). Sounds like the
husband is in short supply of bear.
The husband's loss of love really has little to do with the state of the
girl's mother. He just "lost" his love. Love is his responsibility; if
he wants to love his wife, he can. He can be grateful for the good
memories he has had with her. He can be grateful for the girl with
whom she blessed him. He can make efforts to serve her in bringing
food to her, providing her with company, and comforting her.
I sure admire Nancy Reagan standing by her husband in his
dementia. Some of my best times with my dad occurred after he lost
some of his faculties. The eight year old daughter's desire to get a
"new mommy" suspiciously seems to correlate with dad's loss of love.
A man in this case should "man up," thereby teaching his daughter
by his example innumerable positive character qualities, starting
with faithfulness and kindness.
In His steps,
Rick