Valentine's Day of Compassion
I can't believe it's almost been a year since we first visited those convalescent homes and shelters a year ago on Valentine's Day. I remember it was a good but also sobering experience for me. So many of them were bedridden, too weak and sick to even sit up, just lying there all day, and who knows what’s going on in their minds throughout the day. I was reminded of what’s ultimately the most important at the very end—whether we know Jesus and have eternal life. Going from room to room, visiting the patients, was a sobering reminder to me that ultimately (bedridden with illness or not), that’s going to be me one day—death is a reality. I saw once again that the thing that matters in the end is whether I have laid up for myself heavenly treasures…because that’s what I will be able to take with me when I go to heaven. We made little frames with the Zeph 3:17 verse on it—such small, simple gifts, and yet, as we were giving these out, I felt like that these frames held such greater value because of the words that were written on them. To let them know that God loves them (sometimes shouting that into their ear at times because they were hard of hearing), that was the best thing we could offer them.
I was also surprised at my heart’s reaction towards these elderly patients. I am not someone who particularly likes touch; I’m very awkward when it comes to something like that—just ask my peers. But I found myself reaching out to grab their frail, gaunt hands…squeeze their arms…use both of my hands to hold their hand tight. I felt awkward doing that with the first person I met (her name was Cheryl), but while I was talking with her (and she loved the company, kept on talking), I was thinking how it’s just wrong of me to stand there and not reach out to her with touch. That picture just didn’t seem right—me, a Christian, being so stiff like that. So I reached out to hold her hand and I squeezed it a little. And something about my heart melted a little. And the next patient that I met, and the next, it just became easier, almost natural... As I went around handing out the frames, pointing them to the verse, singing the song, telling them that God loves them very much... I felt a sense of growing confidence in the Gospel. It heightened the value of the treasure that I have. Truly I hold the keys of such good news.