A happy lady with a sweet and easy laugh

Maria Garcia has been described as "a happy lady with a sweet and easy
laugh." She also suffers from dementia and cannot remember things very well.
However, when Garcia awakens each morning, she walks into the living room
and asks one of her caregivers a routine question: "Is my mother up yet?"

Garcia's mother, Rosario Schielzeth, continues to be Garcia's primary
caregiver and companion. The remarkable thing about this is that Garcia is
86-years-old, and her mother is 104! This mother and daughter have rarely
been apart during their lives. In fact, they have spent over 60 years living
together in the same house. And when Garcia's health began to fail, her
mother has always been there to help her.

Schielzeth reads the newspaper each morning and seeks to keep her daughter's
mind active by keeping her updated on current events. She also reminds
Garcia of what day it is, if she has eaten, and the whereabouts of their
dog, Frankie.

"She lovingly reminds her, which is a difficult thing, I would imagine, at
104 to have patience over and over again," said Carol Festari, one of
Garcia's 24-hour caregivers.

Sprinkled throughout their Sarasota, FL home are some stunning paintings
done through the years by the talented Garcia. One of her paintings hangs
over her mother's bed. It is of two people sitting together in the
countryside, near some serene water, having a picnic lunch on a beautiful
day. The two people in the painting are a mother and daughter, a tribute, no
doubt, to the lasting love that is being lived out each day between the
painter and her mother. *

Their love also reminds us of the love of the Creator for His creation...

It was because of His love that God created mankind, and a world that was
perfectly suited to sustain man's life. But man "messed up" God's perfect
creation by disobeying God's will (see Genesis 3).

We all have followed suit: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God" (Romans 3:23). But God still loves us and cares for us!

He loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our
sins so that we might be forgiven of our sins and receive the gift of
eternal life (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7).

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31),
turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men
(Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the
forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38).

His Word (The Bible) is a "constant reminder" of His provision for man. It
is the cross of Christ that stands as the emblem of God's unending love for
His creation (see 1 John 4:9-10).

He has assured us of His continued care and eternal life, if we will just
accept His offer of salvation on His terms.

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent,