nursing home

The Power of Two

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment 
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19 ESV

The power of two has been obvious ever since God looked down at Adam sleeping in the garden and said, “It is not good for man to be alone!” Moses had his brother Aaron, and Joshua stuck with Caleb. Jesus regularly sent the disciples out two by two, and even taught us that having a partner in prayer can move Heaven. In nursing home ministry, it is so easy to get so motivated to just get out there and get something done that we might forget to look to others for help. Being motivated to launch out is a great way to get started, but having a team member in ministry is vital to carry on the work.

But you might say, “I don’t know anyone who is interested in helping in nursing home ministry. But our lack of handy volunteers isn’t a problem for God. What He wants from us is simply the willingness to work with those He brings our way. Even when it seems we are alone at a facility, God just may surprise us from unexpected sources.

One of my favorite “volunteer stories” is about a man named Bruce. Bruce worked in the maintenance department of one of the facilities that I visit. After the service, Bruce would often greet me with a smile, a handshake, and a comment about how he also loved the hymns. One week Bruce asked if he could help sing with me. Though it seemed an odd request, I was later surprised and delighted as I heard his rich baritone voice joining in with me on “How Great Thou Art.” Not only was that a special blessing for me, but the residents also loved Bruce’s singing. Bruce reminded me that we were able to do far more together than either of us could do alone. Because we sang together, people had the chance to see their maintenance man in a whole new light. Though many residents looked forward to my coming in every Friday, Bruce could be there to encourage them or pray for them every day. Sadly, it was only a month or so until Bruce moved on to another job, but the memory of how God uses us together has encouraged me to always be keeping an eye out for the next “Bruce” who God might bring my way!

Indispensable!

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments 
On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. 1 Corinthians 12:22-24 ESV

Indispensable! How I love the sound of that word! Society and sadly even some of our families, certainly do not think of us, who live in retirement or those in nursing homes as indispensable. We who once were the primary caregivers for our children are not really needed for much. Some in long-term care cannot even shower, cook or do the dishes without help. Dispensing with our help is something they have learned to do a long time ago. But the good news is that God delights in calling us indispensable. “In what way can I be indispensable?” you may ask. Here are three.

Prayer: Young people use the phrase, “over the hill” to describe getting older, but in some ways our years put us at a hilltop, from where we can see what our children and grandchildren cannot down in the valleys of life. So, instead of using that perspective to cluck about “That younger generation” God wants us to take time to pray. Because we know first-hand about consequences, and the bumps, bruises and scars of our own missteps and sins, God has taught us to pray, and He will hear and answer the prayers when we cry out to Him.

Connections: Grandad or Nana may not be the first call our kids make when the water heater leaks, the car breaks down or when their kids get in trouble at school, but sometimes we are asked for help. Then we can share the connections we have developed over the years. We know somebody, who knows somebody, or we have “been there and done that,” in that exact situation. Uncle “Google” pretends to know all the answers, but in the midst of a divorce, a disabling accident or a friend’s betrayal, real people with even average intelligence, beat the artificial kind every time!

Counsel: This is tricky, because if we are always offering counsel, we will be ignored (especially if we are right!). We must be patient, so that when they do call to ask our opinion he or she will want to listen. Let’s be sure when that time comes, that we are honest about our own struggles, and then point them to how we have found help in our faith and in God’s promises. We who have lived longer must tell them how we have failed, but with God’s help have gotten back up and gone on. Because we have been weak, He has become our greatest strength. Now our job is to pass it on to them!

Send Them Away

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
Fact - 60 - 70% of long term are residents will not receive a single visitor in an entire year.

Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” Mark 6:36 The disciples had rowed across Galilee with Jesus, with the promise of some well deserved time off and rest. But when they arrived at the dock they were met by throngs of people and Jesus, ever compassionate, had taken turned their holiday into another long teaching session. By late afternoon the disciples were tired, they were hungry and it was late. What could be more reasonable than to send the crowds away? But Jesus didn’t buy into their thinking. Instead He told them. “You give them something to eat.” When it comes to visiting or serving in nursing homes, we probably feel overwhelmed just like the disciples. I know, because I feel like that almost every week. But Jesus isn’t asking us to figure it all out before we do something. He simply asks us to step out.

Now this idea of Jesus’ surprised the disciples and brought about a flurry of them trying to explain the facts to the Master (Ever tried that?} ” Look Jesus, it’s not just late, but we only enough money to buy enough food for everyone to get one bite. Where in the world are we supposed to find food for them out here?” Their words sound both reasonable, as well as strangely familiar, because most of us have tried to skate such logic by Jesus. “We’re broke, we’re too busy, we’re exhausted ourselves.”, and these are all real issues. But instead of going along with this way of thinking, Jesus began to outline His own plan, with a question. “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” the answer came back; “Five loaves and two fish.” (vs 38). Maybe you feel you don’t have much when it comes to serving residents in long term care. But Jesus only asks us to put our loaves and fish into HIs hands. We will be surprised how a little surrendered to Him can do amazing things!

Then Jesus moved to step two – Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. – (vs 39) Once we have given what we have to Him our next step is not, “Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!” Instead, just like the Good Shepherd of Psalm twenty-three Jesus commands us to sit down in green pastures. He’s got this! We aren’t called to fix every problem. He just wants us to trust Him! At this point the disciples had two options: they could have thrown up their hands and walked away saying, “This will never work!” or they could obey. They chose option two and once Jesus had all they had in His hands, and they sat down to rest, He began to work. – And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. – (vs 41).

When we do things Jesus’ way, He will put back into our hands some very ordinary looking things, but they will now be empowered to do more than we ever dreamed. What is it that is in your hands today? Can you make a phone call? Can you send a card? Will you be able to visit? Will you pray? With 1.4 million people in long term care, that means that more than one million of them will not have a visitor for Mother’s or Father’s Day, their birthdays will be forgotten, and soon the last chapter of their lives will be closed. Why not bring them whatever it is that Jesus has put in our hands?