For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Sometimes we sing the verse “I am weak. but He is strong.”  in a theoretical sense only. We actually feel quite fine and we sing thinking that some day when we are not feeling so chipper maybe then we will need the strength of Jesus. For today we are well – thank you – and then the thought of weakness fades as we go on with our afternoon.

But when I sing those words I sometimes think of my friend Sal. He was in his 98th year when I met him in our nursing home service. His large frame with its wide shoulders was now confined to a wheel chair. Sal sometimes would say, “I don’t know why God still has me here…” Maybe one part of the answer which only God knows for sure is the memories of our worship in the dining room at Allied Skilled services.

Though Sal could no longer walk and he was nearly entirely blind,  he could still sing and his strong bass voice would ring out as we sang the old hymns. As Sal’s voice and others like his filled the air I can picture God cupping His ear to listen while He sits among all His mighty angels bowed in worship.  Then I can see God raising His hand for quiet because he doesn’t want to miss a note of that fragile melody better than anything of the heavenly chorus. To Him those elderly voices shine with the faith of children as they sing, “We are weak -But He is strong!”

I believe that if God listens in heaven, then how much more do we need to pay attention here on earth. God inexplicably brings home some who are young because their work here is finished, but He also chooses for some to tarry, because it pleases Him. Since their faith and song are precious to Him, maybe we need to listen more carefully and value more highly those who are living out those words, “But He is strong!”