Nursing Home Ministry!

No words to fully form what the extended visits and prayers I have with some of the precious residents at the nursing home means to me, especially the last two weeks. We have Sunday school service at 2 pm on Sundays now. Through other volunteers visiting, they are offered Bible studies on Mondays and Wednesdays too. I rotate teaching on Sundays. For about 10 years now, I've been consistently involved with nursing home ministry in some way. It has been a series of singing, playing the piano, just visiting, teaching, and even taking them goodies when I can. I remember when covid hit, and I wasn't sure what to do with myself. It was my heart and purpose. It was 16 months later before I walked back in the nursing home to teach again. We've had lapses in teaching again, due to sicknesses with covid; it's a new normal for us but I'm thankful for every opportunity I get to walk in to teach and visit with them. The precious lady, in the picture, has been with me since day one. Ms. Wilma became my instant buddy about 10 years ago, and we mean so much to each other. Today, I sit in her room watching her go through some of the goodies I took; her face just lit up and she was praising God for how good He was to her through me. She was blessed everytime I come to visit or thought to bring her something. Her face just lights up with the biggest smile and so does mine. It's the same with the others I've grown close with. In this 10 year span so many have gone on to be with the Lord. What's stuck with me, more than anything, was their ability to still praise and talk about the goodness of God despite their situation. Despite not being able to live in their home anymore, not hear or see as well, not walk again, some not able to even get out of bed anymore... they were focusing on the day coming when they'd get their new body. These last 2 weeks we've been talking about praising God, and how He deserves our praises during it all. They will share with me how they pray thoughtout the day or just think of a hymn and the words of it will carry them through. We usually sing a song or 2 together, and they'll be singing right along. Some's mind may be slipping, but they still know and understand the importance of praising God. One resident has lost the ability to move her right side and arm or walk due to a stroke, yet she asked for me to pray for Ukraine and all those even in America who were homeless or in need of food; she was fine. She had a place to sleep and food to eat. She was encouraging me to keep teaching the preschool Sunday school class at my church, because she had done it for 17 years at her church. As we sung together today at the end of the lesson, I stopped to pray with residents in their rooms, and I sit and visited with this precious lady for another hour or so... I thought Lord, if anyone has a right to complain or not feel like praising You it's the people in here... yet, here they are giving You the praise and reverence You're due even in their fragile state. If you think you've got it rough or you're in a struggle, just know God will help you realize just how blessed you are. I just praise God for the heart He gave me for this ministry; my purpose and calling!