Monday, April 11, 2011
Trip to the Nursing Home
A few weeks ago, I went to the nursing home for the first time in years. I don't know anyone there. I just know that there are elderly people who have been forgotten and neglected. I know I hear countless stories of nursing home abuse occuring all over the country. The hardest part was motivating myself to go. For weeks I imagined myself going. I knew that it is something that I should do. I kept talking myself out it. I am a very very busy person. I work shift work. 12 hour days. I drive an hour to work. I drive an hour home. When I am not at work, I am spending time with my two beautiful and precious boys. One day my oldest boy, Cade and I were sitting at Starbucks...one of my favorite places...i love the smell of coffee..the laid back atmosphere of the coffeehouse. We were sitting there and I was thinking of visiting the elderly people in the nursing home and how I hadn't had any time to go visit. Then it occured to me, I"m sitting here sipping on a mocha. I have time. So Cade and I headed off to buy some flowers. We picked out various varieties. Grabbed a handful and went to bring some Light to the elderly. We got there. Passed out flowers. We talked with a few of the residents. I just remember thinking when I left, wow. I did it. I had been putting it off for weeks. I kept making excuses about how I didn't know anyone. I thought an ornery old man would maybe try to throw something at me. I didn't know what to expect. There was a fear of the unknown. But we went. We saw. We conquered. It was so easy. Sometimes we just need to go. Just go. Now I'm ready to go back, but this time with confidence. Not with fear. I just want these folks to know someone cares about them. I want to tell them about Jesus. Maybe learn a little about thier lives. One night I was in bed and Jesus said, Tell thier story. The story of the forgotten person in the nursing home. The person rotting away in a jail cell. The story of an overlooked woman at a women's shelter. Tell their story. I want to learn a story. Several stories. And share it. Then I want to give them my story. The story of how I was a lost and broken person. But then I met this Man. And He gave me Hope. And He gave me a plan, a purpose, and the promise of a full and joyful life.
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great story Rachelle, really enjoyed reading it! :)
ReplyDelete-Eric
p.s. I got to sing at a nursing home today. I finally did it for the first time in years.
ReplyDeleteI too had been doing other things, or getting interrupted with other "important" things. Today I had to do my taxes, but I wasn't going to let it stop me from going, not anymore.
I went, sung, and a lady with Tourette's told me to "Go to Hell!" Ha! They had warned me though, so I told her thank you and it was nice seeing her, and she said "Go to Hell, you don't know me, don't pretend you do!" - so fast it was almost one or two syllables.
I had a great time and really had an opportunity ministering to Ms. T (that lady), and several others (Olma May, and a few others).
We taught on the parable of the talents and we spoke about a guy with cerebral palsy who was such a bright light in that place before he died. Whether it be only through your smile, or a hug, or your testimony, you can invest in what God has given you and make more. It really ministered to them and to us.