But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.—2 Peter 3:8 (NIV) 

As I care for my mother-in-law who suffers with dementia, every day can feel like a mixture of both heartache and discovery. Time, as we know it, loses meaning in her mind. She doesn’t just forget; she relives moments from her past as if they’re happening right now. When she talks to her great-grandchildren or even her long-departed parents, she interacts with them in such a warm, vivid way, as though they are all together in the present. Watching and listening to her often feels sad, but also fascinating, in its own unique way. 

Sometimes it’s tempting to correct her, to try to make her see things the way we see them. But I’ve found that, more often than not, it’s easier if I don’t. Instead, I shift the conversation to something from her childhood that she recalls with crystal clarity. She lights up as she connects with a memory that feels real to her. 

These interactions are a reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do is simply be present and let our loved ones lead us through their memories and experiences, even when they no longer make sense to us.