When Jerry and I were caregivers for my mother, I used the following triangle to encourage her to remember her life would not end here. The blue line is the New Birth to Eternal Life.

In 4 1/2 years with us she declined rapidly with Alzheimer’s disease. Now, in this stage of decline, it is encouraging for me to remember I have been born of the Spirit of our Heavenly Father with promise through Christ, His Son, we who are in Christ will never die spiritually. I rejoice in the words of 1 John 3:1-3. New Brith can occur on the side of decline also. On either side Eternal Life goes beyond the page.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Gracious Father, thank you for making us your children, giving us life in Christ, your Son. As we grow physically throughout our life here, fill us with your Spirit and enable us to grow spiritually, to know you better and love you more, to praise you and witness to others that they, too, may have this hope of everlasting life in Christ ~ for your glory and our joy. In His name we pray. Amen.