Turn Turn Turn

CareLiving.org

In 1965, the Byrds recorded a Pete Seeger song called “Turn Turn Turn.” The lyrics, aside from the first two lines, are taken directly from first eight verses Ecclesiastes 3. Perhaps it’s serendipitous that Glen played guitar on this record with the Wrecking Crew more than 50 years ago and it’s just now resonating with me as a caregiver.

Lately, I have been learning to compartmentalize as a method to cope with the length and struggles of our journey with Alzheimer’s. When I’m with my children, I focus on them and what’s going on in their lives. When I’m playing with my dog, I let go of stress and heartache, and enjoy watching him run through the trees to retrieve a frisbee. When I’m with my friends, I talk about news, faith, family, and exercise. Of course all roads lead to Glen and we talk about him too, but I try not to let the tragedy of Alzheimer’s consume my conversations and rob me of the joy that comes from the many blessings that God has placed in my life.

When you suffer the death of a loved one, you’re lucky if you you only mourn for a single season before being able to move on and enter new seasons of your life – to heal, to rebuild, to laugh and to dance again. However, when losing someone slowly to a chronic illness like Alzheimer’s over a period of years, you may feel as though you are in a perpetual season of mourning and darkness.

Remember that as the seasons turn, so must we turn away from defeat and depression as caregivers. We have to be patient, move forward with our lives, and find “a time for peace, I swear it’s not too late!”

Turn, Turn, Turn

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late

5 Comments

  1. This is a beautiful testimony to the spirituality and faith that sustains you in your caregiving journey, Kim. Thank you for sharing from the heart! I, too, am trying to provide tips for family caregivers to provide encouragement in their daily lives. I have been blogging on my website (www.CaregiverFamilies.com) for over a year now. I’d like to share this one with my newsletter subscribers, if I may. Vicki Kaufmann

  2. I remember feeling defeated during the decade and a half of caring for my mother. But over time, I learned this very same lesson…to seek and hold onto moments of joy and connection in the midst of grief and loss. And I am happy to say that my season of sadness gave way to a new season of joy and caring for my daughter. There is life in the midst of grieving. We just have to look for it. Thank you for the wonderful reminder, Kim.

  3. Kim Campbell says:

    Of course! Please feel free to share anything on the CareLiving.org website as long as you credit us with a link. You can share our articles on Facebook and Twitter as well by simply cutting and pasting the page URL. Thank you for your support and for the hard work you put in to your own blog as well.

  4. Robert W Neill Jr says:

    A beautiful statement.

  5. While I have always liked those Biblical verses and then the Byrd song setting them to music, while I’ve been grieving for the entire Glen Campbell family since 2011, I am happy Kim that you can look at things the way you are. Having been a fan of Glen’s since 10 years old, this is hurtful to his fans too and feeling the pain you are going through much like pain of Nancy Reagan. We love Mr and Mrs Glen Campbell and pray God’s blessings on you and all the children, siblings, grandchildren,etc. I specifically am praying God’s miracle on Glen and family. Now am sad to learn another performer I loved as a child, David Cassidy, is suffering from dementia. Like You sId in documentary Kim, this is such a horrible illness! Love all you Campbells and pray God’s blessings on you all through this horiffic journey as Kim refers to it!

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