The Human Spirit

I grew up adoring my grandmother.  She taught me some of the most important lessons in life. She taught us that when you go to Dairy Queen, your dessert should be eaten first because it's the best part of the meal.  She taught me that a lady should always wear lipstick.  

She also taught us that we should always give tithes and offerings to the church.  In fact, some of the most important lessons she has taught me has not been by the words that she has said, but through the life she has lead. For instance, I watched my grandmother serve at her church in all sorts of various capacities while I was growing up, and I knew that I wanted to grow up and serve others, just like her. 

My grandmother now has dementia.  She does not know who I am and she doesn't know most of her family members.  She has slowly faded away, both in body and in mind, over the last few years because of this horrible disease of which doctors cannot truly pinpoint what has caused it. 

Even though my grandmother's mind and body are fading away, her soul is not. 

The Bible has many verses that discuss the spirit within us (a.k.a. our souls).  Proverbs 20:17 says: The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one's inmost being (NIV)."  Psalm 119:175: "Let my soul live and it shall praise you."  God is telling us that our bodies and souls are two separate beings, and my grandmother is proof of this. 

On Thanksgiving day, my family stood in a circle in order to pray for a blessing over the meal.  After my dad said a simple prayer, my grandmother came right over to him and gave him a big hug. She couldn't speak, as she is unable to speak now, but she was truly so happy about the prayer and this was undeniable to everyone in the room.  I wasn't there to see it, but after hearing about it from my mom and grandpa, I had to share this.  Her soul was touched by the prayer, even though her mind and body could not express her feelings.

3 John 2 says: "Dear friend, I pray that you are in good health, just as your soul prospers." 

It is clear, as my grandmother's life is testimony to, that our bodies may not prosper, but our souls do.

Now, the question is, what will you do to feed your soul?

We must feed our souls by studying God's word daily, by prayer and, most importantly, by sharing God's love with others.  Because my grandmother was faithful in all of these things, her soul will prosper far beyond what her body could ever do.