I got in the car this morning to drive to see my husband. I turned on the radio to listen to Joel Osteen on Sirius XM, like I usually do, to get my daily infusion of inspiration and encouragement. For some reason my bluetooth connected itself and started playing songs from the playlist on my phone instead. When I saw Glen’s name come up on the screen, I reached to switch back to Joel (because sometimes hearing Glen sing makes me sad) but suddenly the lyrics of this particular song captured my attention. Although the song was not written by Glen, the words spoke to me as If they came directly from his heart.
I’m just a poet in a world of singers
How I’d love to help you sing your song
But your whole world is filled up with your remembrance
Don’t live in the past, girl – it’s all gone
Now that Glen is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, hearing him say the past is gone seems very profound. The past is certainly gone for Glen. It’s sad that we can no longer share our memories and that I must do the remembering alone. The words ring true, though. Living in the past has no future for me. How then should I live?
I know you’ve been lookin’ for some answers
And it’s kinda hard to find them all alone
But I’ll take time to teach you if you let me
I just want to help you sing along
Glen is teaching me to live each moment as it comes. His courage helps me find my own voice and my own song to sing.
‘Cause I got some words if you’ve got a melody
We could sing a happy song
And I got the love If you’ve got the faith in me
Girl we can get along
Give me some time and I’ll write you a beautiful love song
Glen and I were very happily married before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I know that he would want me to continue being happy no matter what. My faith in his love for me and my faith in God will get me through and I will happily finish his beautiful love song for both of us.
That’s our job as caregivers – to help our loved ones finish their song.
As co-writers we’re sure to receive the emotional royalties for eternity.
Truly Love is Unconditional living through This Myself
That voice!!! Love you Kim
i get to remember glen in a happier time thats what matters to me
So sweet, so beautiful. Kim, you have an army out here praying for you, your kids and Glen’s extended family and cheering you on. He’s meant so much to us and spoken to us through his lyrics for many years, how could we do less than to pray for you and him? Thank you for all that you’ve done for and continue to do for him and others who are on the path with him.
Beautiful song. Not sure why, but I’ve been pulled to Glen’s music lately. Wichita Lineman and his rendition of MacArthur Park are both stupendous!
Kim, I have a tear, this is beautiful, and I need to read this everyday as we try to find our way, and living in the past is not a plan. Thanks for all you do to help so many, I Enjoyed our lunch last week so much, Nancy
Wow..how appropriate the words are for you right now..it’s a God thing for sure. I’m sorry for all your pain. I lost my dad three years ago to Alzheimer’s. He always loved Glen. Towards the end we would play his music. My dad still knew some of the words and he would dance. I will pray for you and Glen.
You are so right Kim, Glen definitely wants you to be happy, and what a beautiful way for you to receive this message. Hugs!
What a beautiful sentiment ** to help our loved ones finish their songs ** thank you for writing that line ** thank you for all that you and Mr. Campbell and your family have done to educate the world on this disease that can break our hearts ** but for all its pain, we -who have lived it- know that there are moments that present themselves that are beautiful ** for sacrificial love is always beautiful ** and ultimately the song is the music of the heart ** His heart ********************** I will continue to pray for all of you. We know, as believers, that the end will be the beginning, and we hold tight our hope of heaven. My mom went home 2 years ago, and though I miss her everyday, and all that we did together ( including watching Joel together–loved his gift of encouragement ) after 10 years of AZ, she is free. When I next see her, it will be for eternity. ** She loved your husband, we listened to him all the time and used to watch his show ( Rhinestone cowboy days ). ** If there is yodling in heaven, I can promise you she is leading it. ** For me, the scripture that was a constant was Philippians 4:13……” I can do …..( fill in the blank for what is needed ) through Christ who strengthens me “. As you know, He is there. He was there-then and He is here now-when sadness threatens to overtake me. And because He was there, and led me, our song-her song-ended on a high note. ** May you feel His comfort even now, in this moment ** Sincerely, ******* I am active in efforts to fight and defeat this disease. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. ******* I will be praying.
Nice song. I’m praying for you and Glen. May God give you strength and peace.
Oh Kim! On this very day I needed some words of encouragement and even more, words of comfort as I deal with the reality of yet another, dear to me,is beginning on his journey through Alzheimer’s! God in hisgreat wisdom knows just the right time to take our hands off the radio dial, and place them on our hearts!
Thank you for your beautiful and inspiring words, and for all you do for so many walking along the same path that you are, And thank you for the amazing love you have for Glen Your presence in his life has been his pillar of strength and carries him now when his feet no longer can find the way.
God bless you always dear friend.
Sabdue Gillard.
You and your family are in our prayers. God bless you on this journey.
Such beautiful words. Thank you for sharing this today. I will help my husband finish his song as well.
Thank you for sharing, Kim. I fell in love with Glen and the Campbell family after watching the documentary.
Yes, he wrote her a beautiful love song for to hold in her heart forever.
Kim, well said and true. His memories are all gone sweetie, but you will have yours forever for the rest of your life honey!!! Ha g in there; I’m still praying to our Lord for your miracle; and do believe it will be given. You’ve kept him happy and healthy as you said in the documentary and God will do the rest. Love you all. By the way, that was no accident with the radio. It was our Lord helping dear Glen speak to you once more. Glad you listened. Others have told me they can’t. Ear to watch and hear him on You Tube but I smile and pray at the TV to be with our dear Glen Campbell and his Mrs. Campbell and all 8 of his dear children!❤❤❤❤❤❤God Bless You All.
What a beautiful song! Thank you for sharing! Prayers for you, Glen and your family.
Hearing this and reading your brave words has been the best moment of my day today. I had the pleasure of meeting you, and seeing Glen one last time in 2012 (we shared a stage in 1997), and I’ll tell you now what I told you then — I appreciate you so much for the love and support you’ve given this remarkable man through the most important years of his life. You genuinely loved him through the best and the worst, and you helped bring him back to God and family. You were the best thing that ever happened to him, and you continue to be an inspiration to all of us on what real love and devotion is. God bless you and yours.
Prayers for you Kim and the family, God has not forgotten about you and Glen, I Thank God that we will get new bodies and new names when God takes us home, because these body will fail us all at one time or another. We will all have fond memories of our loved ones. What a joy it will be to be reunited with family that knew Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior and accepted him; I for one am looking forward to this day, Much love and prayers, God bless you and yours. This is not our home we are just passing through. 2 Corinthians 5 5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Thanks so much for sharing. Praying for you and your family
My husband also has Alzheimer’s Disease – year 9, as did his younger sister, dad, and other family members. I have a pretty good wall put up to prevent the sadness and loss to overcome me. I live day to day – until I hear Glen’s songs or read your thoughts then the tears will come if my husband is not around. I will put my headphones on and listen to his music on youtube cause it is soothing. My husband had just gotten on the bus to day care when I read this. This is not bad but good because these times I give myself permission to shed some tears, then go.
Thank you for sharing this horrible, painful journey you are traveling like so many of us.
I got to see you and Glen together in Frenchlick Indiana in the lobby. When I came up from behind him and said a few words to him and he said, “now who are you?” I think I gat some insight as to who he really is. His kindness reminded me of the personality I had come to love in his music and from his TV show.
This chance ,brief meeting and conversation with him is counted as a highlight of my life. I watched the show that night and saw a strong family pull him through what I could tell he loved to do.
Give him our love and prayers every time you see him.
Glen is lucky to have you. God bless you all.
My mom passed January 13, 2017 from this disease. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2009. It is heartbreaking
Kim thank you so much for keeping everybody informed and letting us all have a window into your world. I know it would be easier to have this private but I truly believe you are there to help so many others dealing with this disease to have a better understanding. Although we know every person is different and the disease effects some different than others, it is a blessing to hear how this has affected you and your family and how gracefully you handle each stage . And we see the love that you truly have for your husband. And yes he was in the public eye ( and still is) he is first your husband and a father. So again THANK YOU for the LOVE you have and for showing us what a wonderful wife you are. My father also had this disease and passed this last year on Fathers Day. He was a wonderful father who always loved us unconditionally and raised four children as a single parent. It was so appropriate for his passing to be on Fathers Day. I will say I still have not really dealt with him being gone and have a couple breakdowns but I know he is in heaven and that is a much better place than here. I do believe things happen for a reason and your music was definitely meant for you at that time. It was God’s way of connecting Glen and you thru his music. It WAS NOT an accident. Thank you again for sharing your life and story. Cherish the time you have. Prayers are with you and your family. God Bless You!
My prayers are with your family God bless you all
Kim, praying for strength for you and your family. I’ve been following Glen’s journey as my mom suffered with Alzheimer’s for over 10 years. We just lost her last November. I completely understand a lot of what you are feeling and going through. It’s so hard on the family to watch. I was living in Nashville when my mom got sick and I uprooted my children to move back to Florida to take care of her. I had no idea what a journey we were about to embark on. Since her passing I have been able to move back to Nashville and live near my children, who are now grown with their own children. Hang on to the memories, and you are right, you do the remembering for them. You carry on both sides of a conversation. My mom’s love for music was our last form of communication, as her eyes lit up when I played her favorite gospel songs.
I know what you are going through as my dad had Alzheimers and it was hard. He is lucky he has you that you care so much. Keep on caring he needs that.
Beautiful song, prayers to you and Glen! Just lost my Dad in November to Alzheimer’s! We all loved Glen and as with him my Dad’s last memories were with his music! I was the last person with him before he passed, I spent it singing with CDs of Dad’s and my brother’s music along with lots of other Country musicians including Glen Campbell!!
To the Campbell family: I pray for you all, daily. I pray for healing and that the Holy Spirit lift you all, including Glenn, those that surround him, and those that are with him in their time of need. I give thanks to God for the wonderful music your family has given us. I will never forget Glenn, I grew up watching his show and listening to his music. I look up old youtube videos and watch in amazement all those wonderful guitar leads.
Dear Kim,
Your husband shaped my growing up years with music, such wonderful memories, and some painful. But surely to our Lord, Glen made my life a happier place. God Bless You, keep you, and make His face to shine upon you.
From Idaho with Love,
Lina
Thank you so much, Kim.This is one of the first songs I wrote after Glen hired me to play bass with him back in 1967. The band then was Glen, Bob Felts, Dennis McCarthy and myself. It was a magical, musical time. My health forced me off the road in 1976. Glen recorded eleven of my songs including “Pave Your Way Into Tomorrow”, the closing theme of the “Goodtime Hour” the last couple of years. God Bless….Bill C. Graham, Nashville, TN.
I’ve always loved this song. I had pleasure of knowing Billy Graham for over 40 years and spent some time with Glen. It was a wonderful time. I can remember it like it was yesterday.
Thank you so much Kim. I am dealing with this now. I kept my husband at home for 12 years and it was a struggle. He has been in a home for 4 plus years. That was the hardest decision I have ever had to make. We have been married 56 years on the 25th of this month. I have gone to see him almost everyday ,have put 119,000 miles on my car going to see him. It is 90 miles round trip. I feel this is all I can do for him now. This makes for a hardship because I dont always have money for gas and have to use my credit card. which is now maxed out. I will continue to do this. He is also an amputee from his diabetes. Hate to go leave him there and lots of times he dont know me. We do what we have to do. Prayers to you and your family