When we have our monthly convalescent home visit, it is not always easy. Sometimes the residents are down and discouraged, seem to be doing worse mentally or physically, and even the best we can do--hold their hands and sing songs and tell them about God's love--seems to be
so little. Many of our residents have some degree of dementia or mental difficulties, making even simple conversation at times a challenge.
But one time, while we were singing and presenting the message in the large group room, I noticed a few relatives in the doorway. Usually visiting relatives just come and talk or take residents to their rooms when we are there, but these relatives just sat in the hallway
observing.
After the program, I approached them and asked if they were visiting or looking for a resident. One woman smiled and said yes, my mother, gesturing to an elderly Chinese grandma in the center of the room who was talking with one of us. I urged her to go in, it's okay, you can just come in, but she shook her head and said it's okay, she's having a good time talking with that sister.
She looked at me gratefully and said, thank you. Beginning to tear up, she related, I was so worried about leaving my mother alone today, but we had Sunday worship service and there was a baptism today too…but God knew and He provided, you were here so she was not alone. I found myself beginning to tear up too, as I was so overwhelmed that God would use us, so helpless and limited and moreover, broken, to be an answer to someone else's prayer. Truly He is a God who calls things that are not as though they were.