Long term care for the soul

Turning 60 brings up questions of preparing for long-term care: no one can afford it, everyone stands a good chance of needing it. 

I got to be with my mom over New Years. She was born in 1913--100 years ago. At this point, her hearing isn't working very well, she can't see very well, she has a hard time putting two thoughts together, and as she said in a loud whisper, "I lack power."

 So what does she have? The hymns. The hymns we sang week after week at church, at home around the piano, and at hymn sings (a phenomenon I have only heard of being current among Native Christians in Canada--it's spending a whole evening singing one hymn after another). Songs evidently are lodged in a part of our brains that keeps functioning when other things fail. So rather than having her mind full of 'She loves you yah yah yah yah', my mom has "All the way my Savior leads me, what have I to ask beside, can I doubt his tender mercy, who through life has been my guide?" Words that nourish the soul. Songs that spark energy and joy in her. A great investment she's made in her long-term care.
And yesterday, it seems my mom took a step a bit closer to her long-term home: tremors. No real explanation, except perhaps Jesus is coming to gather his precious jewel Swannie. We used to sing this one long ago:


When He cometh, when He cometh
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Refrain

Like the stars of the morning,
His brightness adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.

He will gather, He will gather
The gems for His kingdom;
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.

PS My mom with the words of a hymn on my IPAD big enough for her to see.  It was like meeting an old friend: reading. One of her loves throughout  life.