Where Do I Go From Here?
Carla Miller, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Dear Friends,
My first connection with Robin Davenport was through a FB message (edited):
Hi Sharon, I just finished your book, Aging with Grace. I have been so blessed by reading this book. Thank you for your insight and for sharing your heart. My 37 year old son passed away on 2/2/21 after his battle with frontal temporal degenerative brain disease (FTD or young-onset dementia). In the beginning stages, we had no idea what was happening to him. He was married, had two beautiful girls, working, was a student, and had just built his family a new home. Then it was all gone in a matter of months….while incarcerated, he was finally correctly diagnosed with FTD after being misdiagnosed with schizophrenia and depression. In young on-set dementia, the progression moves quickly. He was in the forensic unit for 20 months. During that time he lost executive functioning, was aggressive, lost his ability to talk (aphasia), and started developing swallowing issues. In August 2019, his father and I were able to bring him home with hospice services. I was blessed to be his fulltime caregiver for 17 months. Our story has been full of losses, but in the end, his ex-wife, daughters, sister, and my husband and I were gathered around him as he took his last breath and was carried by the angels into the bosom of Abraham. I understand completely what you said about trying to grasp God’s sovereignty with His love. When I began to understand the sovereignty of God in our son’s situation, I was able to accept his progressive and terminal disease. I held onto Jesus through this 5 year battle with everything I had in me. I wrestled and rested and wrestled and rested and did that over and over again. I feel like I am flourishing at this point. The 17 months with my son caring for his 6’3” 220 lb body like one would care for a baby was a gift I cherish with all my heart. God is so good! He helped me to be able to release my son into His arms and He helped our family to heal…..”
The more I connected with Robin, the more I knew I wanted to help her fulfill her vision of educating others about early on-set dementia and connect with families struggling with this disease. Her faith and joy in the middle of such a hard journey attracted me to her heart and encouraged me to sink deeper into the confidence of God’s loving sovereignty.
Robin shared some of her story through the Help & Hope podcast (link below) and then through her social media posts, I realized she is also a writer. I am so grateful she said yes to partnering in ministry as a guest writer for Daily Treasure.
It is such a privilege to introduce you to Robin Davenport. No matter your journey, her life story will encourage you to fall more in love with Jesus and desire to share His love with others.
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
Learn more about Robin Davenport when you listen to her Help & Hope podcast:
Sharon W. Betters is author of Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness and co-author of Treasures of Faith. She is Director of Resource Development and co-founder of MARKINC.org, a non profit organization that offers help and hope to hurting people. Sharon enjoys quality time with her husband, children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
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Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.