Remember Her?

Courtesy of Etsy

 Many years ago during my chaplaincy days I had visited a nursing cohort's father who was dying in the hospital.  Her mom was there; sadly, she had an advanced stage of dementia. Since my own nephew had died I have always worn a circular neck medallion that says, "faith, family, friends." I had it on when I met her mom in the hospital that day. 

It was dead of winter; her dad died; and I made my way to the funeral home to attend the wake.  Of course, a blizzard was raging but you might say I had no brains in my head or I would have stayed home.  Nothing much stands in the way of me attending a funeral or visitation. 

I walked in to a scarce setting with the family lined up across the front.  For the time of evening, the place should have been filling up.  Her daughter met me as soon as I came in saying, "the deacon can't make it because of the weather, you can do the service?"  I don't know if it was a question or a statement! 

Of course I could do it; I really was happy to oblige but when she took me to meet her mom again, she said, "I'll introduce you but she probably won't remember you," which I figured too!

Well, as I bent over to take her hand with introductions, her daughter said, "mom, you may not remember Molly when she came in the room last week."  At that point, looking at my medal she said, "oh yes, you wore that when I saw you, "faith, family, friends." Oh, my! A very profound reality of this impact on her! 

I have a couple of stories like this and think to myself, "how will we be remembered?" What word, phrase, article of clothing, smile/gesture will make a person's day? Some windows of capability are often nearly closed, as in dementias, but we never know what crack of awareness will touch their heart!  How will each of us be remembered?