We have the privilege of visiting a friend in a nursing home every week or two.  Her family is all living “up north,” so as friends of theirs, we gladly offered to visit her in their stead.  We were happy to make these visits and hoped we might bring cheer to her.

Oh Father God, you must have been laughing to see our serious selves head out.  The visit was clearly written on our calendar; we were conscientious about keeping our commitment.  We debated about little things like whether to bring a cup of coffee. 

Clearly our Lord had bigger ideas, and Miss Barb was on his side.  You see, she is already happy!  We may be her only visitors, but she is happy!  She is grateful!  If she finds cream cheese on her tray for her bagel, she is grateful!  She is a joy to all around her.  If she wins a BINGO game and the prize is a toothbrush, she finds joy in that moment.  If we push her wheelchair so she doesn’t have to wheel it herself, she feels like a queen.  These visits to the nursing home are quite literally fun!

Today she proudly showed us her new beads, purchased from a Dollar store sale.  When I asked about the crucifix hanging from them, she began to tell me.  That’s Jesus and they hung him on that cross.  They put nails in his hands, and it really hurt.  He cried out.  When He died, his body was put in a tomb.  But when Mary and Mary Magdalene came back, he wasn’t there.  They were really worried but when they started to walk away, they saw him.  He was alive!  Jesus told them to go and tell everybody else, so that’s what they did.

Oh Miss Barb, you couldn’t have said it better.  She loves worship – they sing, and they pray.  She tried Bible study, but that was too hard.  Finding places in the Bible was beyond her capacity.  I asked if she’d like a Bible with pictures.  With a great smile, she answered yes, that would be great!  So it may be a children’s bible, but it will be hers on our next visit. 

Lord, you have so much to teach us, and we have so much to learn.  We just didn’t know that so much of it was waiting for us in the nursing home.  We speak loudly, so she can hear us.  But, we listen carefully, we have much to learn.

Judy