Our One True Hope

My mother passed away on June 16 th . Her passing was a long goodbye as she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for over 11 years. It’s a terrible, sad disease that causes a person to slowly fade. It was difficult for my brother and me as we watched our brilliant, funny, spirited mother change. There were many times when she was confused and irritated. But there were also times when she would have moments of clarity and we would enjoy times of laughter as she would tease us.

Stephanie Rogge

Our parents met while both were serving in the Navy as hospitalmen. After serving one term, they moved to Montana where they lived until my father passed away 11 years ago. My brother and my families are meeting soon to bury her with full veteran honors and to celebrate and remember our mother’s life.

As I prepare for her memorial, I’ve been going through stacks of pictures that I received from her. I started digitizing and labeling them over the past few years and want to give copies to the family at the memorial. Along with the pictures are records and mementos of the life she and my father lived. Our mother lived a very full and meaningful life that our family should not forget.

As we remember the life she lived, we also have hope that our mother has new life with Christ. The Lord saved my brother and I as young adults but our parents were not saved until after we were out of the home. As the Lord transformed our lives, my brother and I had many opportunities to share Christ with our parents. Sometimes witnessing to family is hard because they know who you were before Christ. They can be skeptical that God really changed you or if the change is a passing whim. God has been gracious to our family as we prayed for our parents to be saved. I had the privilege to watch my mother place her trust in Christ in 2007. My brother had the privilege of watching our father do the same before his death in 2011.
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I’m thankful that God stirs the hearts of people to have the faith to believe in Him. He is the only one who can give the hope that God gives to those that put their trust in Him.
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But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. ​Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV

In Christ, Stephanie