As the hospital doors open, I pray God's openness in my spirit. I pray God grants me His ears to listen. I pray for God's wisdom.
Sometimes I know the prognosis of the person I'm visiting. Other times I don't. Sometimes it is life threatening. Other times it is life-giving. I've held the hand of the elderly and cradled the wide-eyed newborn within the span of a few days.
Hospital visits are a holy privilege. Each one.
Sometimes I know the person I'm visiting. Other times I don't. Sometimes it is a cousin or brother or niece or friend of a friend. I don't always know what to expect, but I know The One who goes with me.
Lately I've visited senior members in the hospital. It's humbling to help shepherd these saints: They have the wisdom as vast as the Atlantic, and yet they allow me to minister to them.
Hospital visits are a holy privilege. Each one.
Showing posts with label seniors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seniors. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Weathering the Storms
At least once in your life (probably more) you will experience some kind of conflict within the church. At least once in your life (probably more) you will experience some kind of doubt in your faith. If these two things happen at once you might consider leaving the church altogether. I hope you won't do that. Even if every fiber of your being says "GET OUT" I hope you won't do that.
Instead I hope you'll do this one thing: Visit an elderly member of your church.
Hold her hand. Talk to him about his first love. Pray together. Laugh. Wheel her around the assisted living home. Meet his friends. Ask why he first joined First Baptist. Ask why she stayed at First Baptist. Give him a kiss on the forehead. Eat lunch together. Listen to his wise words. Ask to see pictures of her grandchildren. Smell his prize-winning gardenias. Meet their cows. Eat all the cookies she offers.
Visiting seniors won't magically make conflict disappear, but it will connect you to folks who have loved the church for longer than you've been alive. That love usually isn't flippant or naive, so listen carefully. Ask how they stayed with the church when the going got rough.
Visiting seniors may not make doubt subside, but it will connect you to folks who have experienced their fair share and lived to tell about it. Ask how they trusted God when the going got rough.
Visit these friends and listen. Learn how you might weather the storms.
Instead I hope you'll do this one thing: Visit an elderly member of your church.
Hold her hand. Talk to him about his first love. Pray together. Laugh. Wheel her around the assisted living home. Meet his friends. Ask why he first joined First Baptist. Ask why she stayed at First Baptist. Give him a kiss on the forehead. Eat lunch together. Listen to his wise words. Ask to see pictures of her grandchildren. Smell his prize-winning gardenias. Meet their cows. Eat all the cookies she offers.
Visiting seniors won't magically make conflict disappear, but it will connect you to folks who have loved the church for longer than you've been alive. That love usually isn't flippant or naive, so listen carefully. Ask how they stayed with the church when the going got rough.
Visiting seniors may not make doubt subside, but it will connect you to folks who have experienced their fair share and lived to tell about it. Ask how they trusted God when the going got rough.
Visit these friends and listen. Learn how you might weather the storms.
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