Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
Matthew 10:29 NIV
Every Thursday, I get to sing with my friends in a memory care facility. It is such a blessing seeing them light up as they hear the familiar hymns and many of them sing along. But as I greet them, some cannot remember my name, or in a few cases, even their own! Visitors rarely come. Perhaps most people think that since their loved one doesn’t even remember them any longer, that there is no purpose in coming. But the good news is that even when everyone else forgets, Jesus remembers! Jesus also weeps. Just as when Jesus came to visit the sisters of Lazarus, while he lay in the grave, Jesus wept with them before He did any miracles. Sometimes people don’t need explanations, they need our tears, our listening ears and our presence. Yes, Jesus weeps with them, but then Jesus does something more: He prays.
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 NIV
Jesus is not retired, waiting up in Heaven for you and I to get things right. No! Jesus remembers us, Jesus weeps with us and Jesus prays for us. Jesus also prays for every one who sits in memory care. Jesus also calls you and I to remember, to weep and to pray. Will you take time this week to remember someone who has been forgotten by most? A few minutes, a prayer, a kiss, or an arm around their shoulders, may not seem like much, but it is everything to them. Have a blessed day everyone and remember to pray for those in memory care and put some feet to those prayers this week.
Your love of the people shines through all of the words in your post. It’s a very special calling. People in memory care have lived long and valuable lives. My dad was in a facility like that for the last several months of his life (He passed away at the age of 103). It had become too dangerous for my brother and his wife to care for him. The people there loved him. They were so kind, and it was a privilege to visit with him. He didn’t remember a lot of facts and events, but every now and then he’d come out with some kind of awesome phrase, such as “I love you, and you love me. We all love each other, and that’s all we have to do.” Or, “My wife is happy in heaven, and pretty soon I’m going to be with her, and we are going to be happy together.” Little gems that touched the hearts of all who visited. They may have forgotten facts, but they still have so much going on inside there.
Amen! Thank you for sharing such precious memories.