In 1962, when four guys named, John, Paul, Ringo and George were releasing their first hit song, Doris Mae was helping with choir practice. One particulat night, Doris felt the presence of God in such a powerful way that she hesitated to dismiss everyone. As they lingered a bit, she told someone. “There is such a sweet spirit in this place.” Doris was so enraptured by that experience, that she went home and wrote the words, “There’s a sweet sweet Spirit in this place. And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.”
Today, almost no one remembers Doris Mae Acker, but millions still sing that song which God gave her. And ironically that big hit song, “Love Me Do.” by The Beatles, is rarely played. That story makes me recall some other lyrics written a bit earlier, “I’d rather have Jesus than world wide fame. I’d rather be true to His Holy name.
It was my privilege to sing Dotis’ sweet song with my friends at Life Care today. I ho0e you can hear their voices as we sang together for Jesus and that you will join in. Have a blessed dsy everyone!
And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40 NLT
This morning as I was planning this year’s nursing home Christmas outreach, I remembered how long ago a group of our 7-8-year-old Sunday School children came to sing carols. Their sweet voices as they sang in the dining room was amazing. They sang every song that we could think of, from Away in a Manger to Jingle Bells. The residents loved it and as we finished, the parents crowded in, snapping photos of their dear ones. Maybe the best part was the cookies made by one of the teenage girls. No one cared that they were just a shade overbaked, and as they passed them out the younger children tagged behind handing out Christmas cards and introducing themselves.
Just as our program was winding down, I remembered that, with no extra staff available to help, the residents of the respiratory unit on the second floor had been unable to come. So, I rounded up a small troupe of kids along with two parents and their Sunday School teacher, and then we headed to the elevator. The respiratory ward was populated with some of the youngest of those in the facility. Some had been in a car accident, others a stroke and one or two in the late stages of multiple sclerosis. After bringing our little flock to sing a couple of carols for a few people who I had met before, we headed down the hall. Suddenly, I heard a stranger’s voice calling. “Oh, if you have time, can they please come sing for David?”
“Absolutely!” I said, hoping that their parents didn’t mind that it was getting late. As we started into the room we saw there was a young man, lying in bed, with a breathing tube hooked up to his trach, and sitting nearby was his mother. The children timidly filed in around his bed and then with a little help from my guitar, started to sing. I don’t remember all the songs, but I vividly recall everyone’s tears flowing as the children finished the evening by singing Silent Night.
As they sang, sleep in heavenly peace” the sense of God’s peace was so amazing, that I was reminded of the first Christmas. On that night another child lay helpless, and he shivered, until Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in the hay. Only at Allied Skilled Nursing, there were no wise men with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Instead, our children left a Christmas gift of hope, and their little smiles and timid waves as they said their good-byes reminded us that, no matter where we are, God remembers. And this Christmas, Jesus still waits for both wise men, and children to come and worship on their Silent Nights as well as in the middle of their busy days. I never told our children, but their newly made friend David lived only a few more weeks, and the gift they gave had been far more precious than they could have ever known!
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalm 68:11 KJV
In March of 2020, the doors not only to a majority of businesses were closed, but the access we had to those in long term care was almost entirely cut off. For those of us involved in nursing home ministry this was a challenge such as we had never faced. I was not allowed to bring flowers for Mother’s Day and instead we paraded by with our cars while they sat on the porch and waved. I am not sure how long the rest of the nation went on with this, but here in Florida the complete lock down lasted 14-15 months, dependent on the facility. But as someone once said, when God’s closes a door, He opens a window, and the window for us was called, Sunshine Newsletter. With the help of Rob Keller, a graphic artist friend from the men’s group at our church and Pastor Janice Burnett, a nursing home chaplain from Western New York State, we began to publish a weekly devotional. Though we have gone through a few tweaks and improvements over the 3 1/2 years of publication, our newsletter remains a simple, two-sided single page handout. We do this to minimize our printing expenses as well as to leave with the residents something they will actually read and pass on to others. This week as I was getting the final draft ready to send on to Rob, for formatting and artwork, I stopped to think that with God’s help we are now sending out issue number 175! I am so grateful for those many people who have volunteered to write, suggested inspiring quotes. sent in photographs and done the setup and artwork. It is an amazing blessing each week as I hand out copies of Sunshine to see the smiles on the faces of our residents. If you would like to write for Sunshine or receive our free publication, let me know at Revpete51@gmail.com. It would be to send it to you, and we encourage you to share it with others. Have a blessed week everybody!
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