A Homecoming to Remember

A Homecoming to Remember--tree-lined, snow-covered country lane

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:11-12 NIV).

“Who lives here?”

“We do,” I said.

“How long have you lived here?”

“We live here together. Remember, I’m your wife.” He then stared until recognition crossed his face.

“When can we go home?”

“We are home. This is where we live now.” Over and over I gently prodded his memory.

Failure to Remember

A Homecoming to Remember--hospital roomFollowing a heart attack, stroke, fall that resulted in traumatic brain injury, and lack of oxygen when his heart and lungs stopped functioning on December 10, 2009, medical staff did not believe my husband would survive. Miraculously he did. Then they anticipated the need for long term care.

Yet he walked into our home in less than four weeks, a home he failed to recognize.

Learning to Remember

After several days, he began recalling the move to our house, and his questions changed.

“When did we leave the old house?”

“About nine years ago.”

“When are the other people leaving?”

“We’re the only ones here now. Two former university students visited a few days before your fall. But they’re gone now.”

A Homecoming to Remember--hands clasped over Bible“Where do we keep the soap?” or shampoo, bowls, or countless other items used daily.

We found them together.

One part of our routine he never questioned was our evening time of Bible reading and prayer. After I finished reading a Bible passage each night, he would clasp my hand in his before we prayed and turned out the lights.

Telling His Story

His need for outpatient therapy lasted only a few weeks. He quickly progressed from walker to cane to unassisted but supervised. We continued a series of balance exercises at home for a few weeks. Gradually he regained greater independence.

Bit by bit his memory also returned. He went from little long-term and almost no short-term memory to primarily short-term memory loss. For several years, few casual acquaintances would have recognized his memory difficulty as anything more than an ordinary over-fifty hurdle. Those who know us well marvel at God’s mighty work in my husband’s life and the witness this experience has provided. We continue to pray that his story, both verbal and written, will point everyone we meet to the Great Physician. We want them to know that, whether we experience God’s miraculous physical and mental healing or not, God offers spiritual healing to all.

A Homecoming to Remember

A Homecoming to Remember--Kentucky mountains sceneThe summer following my husband’s hospitalizations, we took a short vacation. Although a refreshing change, it also proved exhausting for both of us. As we returned, the closer we came to Kentucky the more excited we grew. Finally, we crossed the state line, and with joy my heart echoed his spoken sentiment: “I’ll certainly be glad when we get home.”

Yet, that experience pales in comparison to our rejoicing when we one day cross the threshold of our eternal home.

Are you ready to go home? Jesus waits with open arms.

Diana Derringer

Diana Derringer is an award-winning writer and author of Beyond Bethlehem and Calvary: 12 Dramas for Christmas, Easter, and More! Her articles, devotions, dramas, planning guides, Bible studies, and poems have been accepted more than 1,200 times by 70-plus publications, including several anthologies. In addition, Diana writes radio dramas and question-and-answer television programs for Christ to the World Ministries. Her adventures as a social worker, adjunct professor, youth Sunday school teacher, friendship family for international university students, and caregiver for her husband supply a constant flow of writing ideas. For a free copy of Diana’s “Words of Hope for Days That Hurt” and her weekly Words, Wit, and Wisdom: Life Lessons from English Expressions, join her mailing list at https://dianaderringer.com.

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11 comments

  1. I love the challenge of commitment. I love the steadiness of faith. I love the example of love. Thanks for the blessing you are.
    A Promise Kept, is a little book that I think you would appreciate. It’s about the journey a couple experience as they travel the dementia road.

  2. Diane, I knew about your husband’s health issues at the time but reading this has enlightened me. You certainly witnessed a wonderful miracle in your husband. Thank you for sharing.
    Karen Shely Noel

    1. Karen, I’m so glad to hear from you! This was only one of the miracles God worked in his life. The cardiologist on call documented in his notes, “Wow!” Thanks for responding.

  3. How beautiful!! Indeed, “home” here is just a temporary stopover. How glorious the day when Jesus says “welcome home!”

  4. Amen! This was such a beautiful reminder of the hope we have in Jesus. Heaven will be worth it all. Finally home. Forever. Thanks so much for sharing this testimony about your husband. Another thing we have in common…

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