How Much Sugar Do I Put in the Chicken Pastry?

I met a very fascinating lady today! Her name was Wanda. She was exactly my age minus one month (which is fifty-four if you are wondering). Her birthday was actually yesterday. She was taller, than short. More thin, than fat. Well she was just a nice average size, I guess. She had jet black hair and Beautiful, caramel-colored skin. She was sporting jeans, a woolen, plaid vest atop an olive green shirt, and sand-colored UGGs. She looked very “woodsy”, as if she were preparing to go on a short hike in the great outdoors. Her sister introduced her to me and she extended her hand. She had a firm handshake, attempting to possibly display her confidence in herself. She had the most striking smile that spread all across her face. I couldn’t see her eyes because she had on sunglasses, but it was obvious that her eyes were smiling, too! I asked her if she was having a good day and she promptly responded, “Yeah”.

Well, I have given you a brief description of Wanda. I gather you have calculated an image of her in your mind. But there is a lot I have left out!

Add this to your image of Wanda: She did in fact, “shake” my hand, but she wouldn’t let go. I had to virtually pry my hand away from hers after a few minutes. She did smile, but it was a continuous smile! Never-ending! And she did say “Yeah”, but she said “Yeah” to everything. She had a very bad cold and her sister had to constantly wipe her nose, because she couldn’t blow her nose on her own. If her sister got up, she got up. If her sister sat down, she sat down. She followed close beside her sister like a little puppy dog. I was told by her sister that she didn’t know when she was hungry or when she needed to go to the bathroom.

I know that a lot of you are aware that I work with mentally challenged people and you are probably thinking that Wanda is just one of “those” people. Well, I guess she is, but here is what makes her story a little different.

I don’t know all the details, but I was told that four years ago, Wanda was living a very normal life (whatever that is). She had two children and was able to experience life like most of us do. And then one day, she was cooking supper and she turned to her sister and asked, “How much sugar do I put in the chicken pastry?” And that was the beginning of a downhill road to an almost complete mind deterioration. You see, Wanda has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Yes, at 50 years old, Wanda's life changed drastically! She basically can no longer communicate with those she loves, nor they with her.

It is inconceivable to me to think that life could change so quickly. We live life with the idea that tomorrow is promised to us! We take so many things, and people for granted!

Make it a point to think about Wanda for a minute, and pray for her. And her sister, who is literally spending each waking hour, and probably more, taking care of her sister. Go immediately and find somebody! Pick up the phone! Tell somebody RIGHT NOW that you love them and you are thankful for them! And be glad that they can understand what you are saying!

Because you never know when you might hear something like this:
“How much sugar do I put in the chicken pastry?”





Job 33:4The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.