I am sometimes amazed at the longevity of things that are just not so. Decades ago we were told we only use ten percent of our brains and if we used all of them we would be incredibly intelligent. Despite the fact we have known for a long time that we use all our brains, one can still hear the old wives’ tale. Our brains are amazingly complex organs with different parts designated for different tasks. Fact retention and mood retention are executed in specific and separate locations, and so it is that researchers have discovered something most interesting. People with Alzheimer’s disease have difficultly retaining memory of recent events. We can visit grandpa only to have him in just a few minutes forget we were there. However, the mood we set for grandpa will stay with him all day. If our visit makes him happy, even though he forgets we were there, he stays happy for the rest of the day. Our visit made a huge difference in the quality of his life. He cannot tell someone what it was that made him happy. He just knows life is good.
When I was young our church would visit “The Old Folks Home” on Sabbath afternoons. We called what we did, “Sunshine Bands.” We would sing and visit people who couldn’t get out of bed. I must confess I used to be a bit cynical about the value of this. I thought it did more good for us than it did the old folks. Now I am not so sure. I know it is good for us. But research now tells us it makes grandpa’s day. Matthew 25 has become more meaningful. “When I was old you came and visited me. You made my day.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on April 14, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org