An old-lady smack in the face.
"Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work."
1 Timothy 5:9-10
Taking care...even visiting...old people has never been my thing. I know people who know how to communicate well with the elderly and I have always left the visiting up to them. When I visit older relatives I always feel like I'm speaking a language they no longer understand. Sometimes when they don't respond or are too sick to engage in conversation, I figure my visit is useless. This verse wasn't in my daily reading by chance. I needed to hear it.
Yesterday, we buried my great-aunt, Nina. During the funeral service, the pastor thanked the relatives for faithfully visiting, even when Nina no longer responded. I know there were relatives sitting at the funeral who really appreciated that "thank-you," because they deserved it. That "thanks" smacked me in the face.
Our family rarely visits the elderly, even our elderly grandparents. I am beginning to realize the issue at hand for me. My time is valuable and I like to spend it "using my gifts." I serve in many places at my church and serve my family well at home. I've always considered visiting the older generation awkward and certainly not something I enjoy doing. A visitation ministry is not my gift... ultimately not for me. I'm using a lot of "me's" and "I's" in this blog entry...and this, I'm discovering, is the issue at hand.
Not only does the Bible require that I, as a believer, take part in the church body by visiting the widows...it requires me to care for them! I have been ignoring this duty as a believer for all of my adult life. After watching my parents and aunts and uncles care for my great-aunt Nina (and others) I have renewed insight in caring for the elderly. Like breathing in, this falls into the characteristics of the church, something vital to the existence of the church.
God's plan to take care of widows is certainly a sacrifice for me and necessary for the well-being of the church as a whole. I do think, however, that in sacrificing for another individual there will be spiritual blessing. The possibilities for growth through a relationship with a mature Christian would be an obvious blessing. The blessing of caring for another person, the ministry my kids would experience through visiting the elderly, and the pure joy of knowing I am working in the will of the Lord would all be beneficial. As a spiritual being, I would be foolish to not explore a visitation ministry further. I pray that down the road, I could sense that genuine feeling of gratefulness when I hear a "thank-you" in regards to helping the elderly (that beats a smack in the face any day!).
God, forgive me for being so selfish. Create in me a genuine passion to serve you by serving others. Show me what you see, specifically how you see the elderly. Give me a renewed fervor to share my life with the church. Thank-You for using me despite my crippling pitfalls. I love you!
Amen.
Taking care...even visiting...old people has never been my thing. I know people who know how to communicate well with the elderly and I have always left the visiting up to them. When I visit older relatives I always feel like I'm speaking a language they no longer understand. Sometimes when they don't respond or are too sick to engage in conversation, I figure my visit is useless. This verse wasn't in my daily reading by chance. I needed to hear it.
Yesterday, we buried my great-aunt, Nina. During the funeral service, the pastor thanked the relatives for faithfully visiting, even when Nina no longer responded. I know there were relatives sitting at the funeral who really appreciated that "thank-you," because they deserved it. That "thanks" smacked me in the face.
Our family rarely visits the elderly, even our elderly grandparents. I am beginning to realize the issue at hand for me. My time is valuable and I like to spend it "using my gifts." I serve in many places at my church and serve my family well at home. I've always considered visiting the older generation awkward and certainly not something I enjoy doing. A visitation ministry is not my gift... ultimately not for me. I'm using a lot of "me's" and "I's" in this blog entry...and this, I'm discovering, is the issue at hand.
Not only does the Bible require that I, as a believer, take part in the church body by visiting the widows...it requires me to care for them! I have been ignoring this duty as a believer for all of my adult life. After watching my parents and aunts and uncles care for my great-aunt Nina (and others) I have renewed insight in caring for the elderly. Like breathing in, this falls into the characteristics of the church, something vital to the existence of the church.
God's plan to take care of widows is certainly a sacrifice for me and necessary for the well-being of the church as a whole. I do think, however, that in sacrificing for another individual there will be spiritual blessing. The possibilities for growth through a relationship with a mature Christian would be an obvious blessing. The blessing of caring for another person, the ministry my kids would experience through visiting the elderly, and the pure joy of knowing I am working in the will of the Lord would all be beneficial. As a spiritual being, I would be foolish to not explore a visitation ministry further. I pray that down the road, I could sense that genuine feeling of gratefulness when I hear a "thank-you" in regards to helping the elderly (that beats a smack in the face any day!).
God, forgive me for being so selfish. Create in me a genuine passion to serve you by serving others. Show me what you see, specifically how you see the elderly. Give me a renewed fervor to share my life with the church. Thank-You for using me despite my crippling pitfalls. I love you!
Amen.
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