Most people know someone with Alzheimer's disease, whether it be a grandparent, family member or friend. The person I know just so happens to be my mother. She is caring and sweet even in the grasp of this terrible disease. When she was first diagnosed, I was mad, angry, even as far as pissed off at God. My mother didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve to slowly and publicly lose her mind. It was just not far.

Fast forward two and a half years later. My mother has progressed even farther in the disease and needs constant companionship. Last week, I took her out to lunch for a special mother-daughter date. As I fixed her plate and reminded her that we need to use silverware when we eat in public, I was struck with how child like she had become.

And instead of anger, in that moment, I felt joy and peace. My mother had always been the one to take care of everything. She homeschooled all of us, made our food, cleaned the house, drove us everywhere we needed to go. My mother was an all-star mother, the best I could ever imagine. She also had her fair share of problems.

Her father and both in-laws passed from cancer, and she was extremely close with all of them. Her husband also became disabled and while he could no longer work and had to stay in the hospital, all the burdens fell on her shoulders. She stood tall and carried these problems, even though the pain must have been back-breaking.

Now, I don't get mad when I think about her diagnoses. Her disease is forcing her to relax. It is taking off the burden of this world. She now needs to be taken care of instead of her taking care of everyone else.

Of course, I still wish that she didn't have this disease but, I am at peace because I know she is, too. After all these years, she finally gets to relax and not have to worry about everyone else. God has given her the chance to rest and she doesn't have a care in the world.