He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom and gently lead those who are with young. Isaiah 40:11 NKJV
Though I am long retired, I still act as a caretaker for what is something of a gentlemen’s farm. NO, I do not perform any of the physical labor, rather I simply manage the accounts, paying the taxes, insurance and the various men who care for the property. In view of the responsibilities, perhaps the word, “Caretaker” is misapplied, as I do take care from the place, instead, I diligently watch over the various activities with the good of the owner in mind. On another track, my wife and I have also become the “Caregivers” for an elderly friend, whose house was flooded out in a hurricane over a year ago. Her struggles with Alzheimer’s as well as a recent stroke have left her in need of people to guide her through basic daily activities.
Both of these separate duties call for a giving that only dimly shadows the care-taking and care-giving of our Good Shepherd. In today’s verse God says that He gathers the lambs with His arm. No rough shepherd’s rod and even the long staff employed in directing the sheep is pictured here, instead God tells us He gathers us in His very arms, lifts us up and carries us. He does not get tired, impatient, or bored with the mundane duties of seeing to our daily needs. When we ask He provides bread, when we weep in contrition, He forgives, when we plead for the needs of others, He listens. Then in this last part of the verse we catch a glimpse into the heart of our God, as He gently leads us as we gently lead the ones He has placed in our care! What a wonderful Savior and Caretaker! What an amazing eternal Caregiver and Good Shepherd, we have in Jesus Christ our Lord!
As I sat in the hospital emergency room again last night, I was blessed to see that the television in the room was playing a TBN special with Matthew West. This particular song brought me peace and encouragement in the uncertainty of the moment, and I pray it will also draw you heart to our Savior whatever circumstance you are facing today.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. John 19:26-27 ESV
A few years ago, during the pandemic, the way we had served in the past was challenged because nursing homes had closed their doors to visitors. Everything we knew how to do was denied us and we struggled to find ways to still reach the residents in practical loving ways. Today, that era is a distant memory, but if you are a caregiver, chaplain, family member or friend, you will still face moments of despair, and today’s verse encourages us to keep going whatever difficulties we face. Jesus chose us to serve in a unique way, to love widows and those orphaned by the world, entrusting their care to us for a season. When that call seems overwhelming, we need to remember, that when Jesus asked John to take care of His mother, He didn’t assign her as a problem to be solved or a burden to bear, but as a mother to love. Our calling as long-term care workers is to keep on loving people in every way possible and through every opportunity that God puts in our hands. Notice also that none of the other disciples ever understood or helped John out. While Peter and Paul had big public ministries, John stayed close to home. He was taking care of Mary as his lifelong commitment and a lifelong trust. While some people will understand and encourage us, most have little idea of what we are going through. But what matters is not what others think, what counts is that Jesus knows, and will give us His strength and His provision, because after all- we are taking care of His mom!
“Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:5 ESV
A lot of people have come to me over the years, and say, “I want to get involved in nursing home ministry, but where do I get started?” Well, the truth is, I don’t know all the answers, but I have learned that nursing-home ministry, just like any other type of service in the body of Chrost is about joining team Jesus. Maybe it would help if you could just imagine getting together with friends to play a game of football. The team captains have already been chosen, and they begin to call out the names of those they pick. One by one, people go and stand next to their captain. In nursing home ministry, Jesus is not only our captain, but He is also the quarterback. He calls the plays in the huddle, throws the ball to different people on different occasions, and sometimes, even calls for a time out so that we can go to the sidelines to talk to our coach.
“But what can I do?” is an often-repeated question, and there is no single answer, because we all have different roles that God has given us to play. Maybe you are a people person, but not a public speaker. Why not see if a few residents might like to join a small Bible study one morning a week. Others of you can play an instrument, and you could team up with someone to hold a Sunday afternoon service, for those that can’t make it to church. One lady I met was a hairdresser, who volunteered a few hours a week to do hair, and while they were in the chair, she listened to their stories, pointed them to Jesus and prayed with them. But before you do anything, the most important thing of all is to listen to the coach, that is spend time in prayer. He already has a plan for you and me, but He gives us the privilege of seeking it out, knocking on His door, and then asking for His help to do what He asks.
But the key to everything we do is to follow how Jesus did things. In the upper room on the night of the Last Supper, Jesus shocked His disciples by washing their feet. In fact, Peter was so shocked that at first he refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet. More often than not, you and I are just like Peter. We have dirty feet, and we hate to admit it and we would hate even more for Jesus to see those feet and then kneel down and wash them. We feel so ashamed, so unworthy, so hopelessly out of control. We suddenly see how far we are from where God intends for us to be, but truth be told, that place of humility is exactly where Jesus wants us to be. He can’t use us to serve in the lives of others, until He has become the washer of our feet. We must be ready for the humility of receiving from Him before He can use us to give with humility to others.
“But what does that mean for me?” you might ask. In my case it has meant stopping a meeting to pray for a man who fell out of his wheelchair, or going into a room and praying with a family as their loved lies unresponsive in their bed. Joining team Jesus has often meant ditching my carefully planned meeting and responding to unexpected and sometimes unpleasant situations with grace. How that approach applies in your local community, begins by doing the things that Jesus did in the upper room that night. First, Jesus took off His robe, then He wrapped a towel around His waist. Now, this wasn’t just any old robe. This was the seamless one that had been lovingly woven by his mother and given to Him as a special gift. His robe marked His well-earned place of respect in His home, His village and among His disciples. Think of it like the steps I take before starting a painting project around our home. I set aside my nice comfortable jeans and slip into an old pair that hangs in our garage. Then my favorite t-shirt gets put away and I get the old worn-out one from my dresser. Last, I take off my new sneakers and dig out the beat-up ones kept in the bin holding my rollers and paint brushes.
So, if you are feeling God tugging on your heart to serve in long-term care ministry, begin where Jesus began.: on His knees in service to us. Start by asking yourself, “Where has God called me to serve? ” Then embrace the humility of Jesus, put aside the things that feel comfortable, and put on the work clothes needed for the job that God is calling you to do today!
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