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Dear Friend,

I want to share something deeply personal with you today—a journey I never expected to travel. My lifelong sweetheart and lovely wife, Cynthia, is battling dementia. For those of you who know, this path is fraught with challenges, and navigating it has been incredibly difficult for both of us.

At 92, my own strength is not what it used to be, and with my diminished eyesight, I find myself leaning heavily on the support of those around me. Accepting help never came easily to me, but life has a way of teaching us lessons we didn’t know we needed.

I’ve always had compassion for those who’ve walked this road before me, yet now I am experiencing the weight of emotions—exhaustion, confusion, the agony of disconnection—as I try to connect with the woman who has brought so much joy to my life. Just the other day, as I gave her a hug, I felt her frailty, a stark reminder of the toll this disease is taking.

Yet, in the midst of this trial, I go back again to the promises of our Lord. “The Lord is good to those who depend on him,” Lamentations 3:25 reminds us. My daughter, Charissa, often reflects on Psalm 91, stating, “God will be our shelter in times of storm and, as we depend on Him, will help us create a museum of pleasant memories.” I hold on to those promises tightly!

It’s in this spirit that I come to you with gratitude for your prayers and your faithful gifts. They enable us to continue to share God’s truth and offer encouragement to those struggling with their own challenges. Your spiritual and financial support makes all the difference in the world to us.

Today—right now—let’s be known for our compassion. Each person we encounter carries his or her own burdens. May our kindness lift them up and help us all create museums of pleasant memories.

In His grace,

Pastor Charles R. Swindoll