Get Well!

        With four hospitalizations during the past three months, my wife and I have learned quite a bit about what is appreciated from friends during these stays and times of recovery.  It is really comforting to know that one has friends who are concerned and praying.
          Visitations are nice when one is feeling well enough to appreciate them.  But they should be short and comforting.  It is so easy to stay too long and wear out your welcome, especially when the patient is tired or in discomfort.  Unfortunately we have had to ask a few friends to leave and we should have done the same to a few others.  This is also the case when the patient is released and recovering at home. Generally 15 minutes is enough if you are not a family member.
          Flowers can be nice but they are very expensive.  Sometimes they are appreciated more after the patient is released and recovering at home.  Meals are also appreciated but only if you know what the patient can eat and enjoy.  During our stay we did receive some flowers from our Awana club and a few meals from friends and family.
          But I think one of the things we appreciated the most were the get well cards with personal messages included.  Unfortunately, cards have gotten very expensive but to buy one and pay to send it today shows real thoughtfulness and makes them even more appreciated. But please include a personal handwritten message.  E-mail cards are a nice substitute but you can't get them when you are in the hospital and you can't display them to enjoy during your days of recovery.  There is often something extra special about purchased or handmade cards with timely messages.
          Now many of the cards which we received contained beautiful messages and encouraging personal notes. For example, one of them said "Someone's Taking Really Good Care of You - Our God is the Great Physician - the One who made you and knows how to mend you.  His healing touch restores body, soul and spirit.  His schedule is never too full ... His diagnosis is always accurate ... His treatment is wise and gentle ... and His result - amazing! You couldn't be in better hands.  Lifting You Up in Prayer".  "Praying ... that you will be filled with His mighty, glorious strength so that you can keep going ... always full of the joy of the Lord." Colossians 1:11 TLB.  And that was encouraging.
          However, it is often good to receive a card that is humorous.  It can be encouraging just to laugh a little in times of stress and pain.  One of my favorites came from a cousin.  It showed a doctor in front of a skeleton, bones and medical jars and containers.  It said Here's a list of useful terms to speed your recovery:  Healthy as a horse ... Fit as a fiddle ...at your best ... Feeling in the pink ... chipper ... the ol' pizzaz ...100% ... tip top shape ... feeling your oats ... on top of the world ... strong as an ox ... back in the swing ... just ducky!
         Then it gave the following definitions.  Bacteria - rear entrance of a cafeteria.   Nitrate - cheaper than day rate.   Urine - opposite of "you're out!"  Barium - What happens if CPR fails.   Dilate - to live longer.   Outpatient - a person who has fainted.  I still enjoy this card.  Thanks Cuz!
          Well nobody enjoys being in the hospital.  But sometimes that is just part of life.  But it does help when you are remembered by friends who not only pray for you but also demonstrate their concern and friendship in some visible way.  Thank you to those who have done that for us.

(1)    I have a Savior, He's pleading in glory,

A dear, loving Savior though earth friends be few;

And now He is watching in tenderness o'er me;

And oh, that my Savior were your Savior, too.

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

I'm praying for you.

(2)    I have a Father; to me He has given

A hope for eternity, blessed and true;

And soon He will call me to meet Him in Heaven,

But, oh, that He'd let me bring you with me, too!

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

I'm praying for you.

(3)    I have a robe; 'tis resplendent in whiteness,

Awaiting in glory my wondering view;

Oh, when I receive it all shining in brightness,

Dear friend, could I see you receiving one, too!

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

I'm praying for you.

(4)    When Jesus has found you, tell others the story,

That my loving Savior is your Savior, too;

Then pray that your Savior may bring them to glory,

And prayer will be answered — 'twas answered for you!

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

I'm praying for you.

(5)   Speak of that Savior, that Father in Heaven,

That harp, crown, and robe which are waiting for you—

That peace you possess, and that rest to be given,

Still praying that Jesus may save them with you.

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

For you I am praying,

I'm praying for you.

The Good Neighbor

          With apologies for the similarity between this week's blog and the account of the Good Samaritan as recorded in Luke 10:25-37.  Actually this story does not involve any person from Samaria.

          Once upon a time there was a senior couple who lived alone in their own home.  All of their lives they had been relatively healthy and able to take care of themselves and their property  They loved the Lord and spent most of their lives serving Him in a variety of ministries.  They had been part of a particular church for decades and in fact one of them had been there from the very start of the church many decades ago.

          But in recent years they suddenly and unexpectedly felt the difficulties of growing older.  They spent much of their time with doctors and in hospitals and found that they just couldn't do many of the things that they had easily done throughout their lives.  This was very difficult for them to accept.

          Most of their friends didn't realize how they were struggling since they were used to them always being so active. And they didn't readily share their condition or needs. Their children understood and tried to do all that they could do to help their parents. But there were many things that they just couldn't do because of their own jobs, their own responsibilities, and the distances from their parents, especially in bad weather.  

          Their friends most likely felt that their children should take care of all of their needs and as a result they did nothing to help the couple.

           But one day the couple reached a major roadblock at their home - snow.  They were no longer able to handle their snow removal even though they had a good  snowblower.  They also couldn't even find somebody to hire to do it.  They even advertised for help but without any response.

          So in their need the neighbors passed them by.  Many of these neighbors were young strong men. A few were college students. They should have no problem helping with this need, but they were too unconcerned and busy with their own affairs.  They had their own lives to handle and despite pleas from the seniors, they just passed them by leaving the seniors without any help and with their snow.

         Next were friends they had known for many years, including many Christians and church members.  Many of them also saw their plight and also passed them up.  No help came from those who claimed that they loved and cared for the senior couple.  Let their family take care of them and their snow they must have thought.  Or they may have just been too busy with their own families and needs to stop and help.  So on they went with their lives leaving the seniors with their snow.

          But alas, along came a man who was new to another area street. He passed the house of the seniors most days taking his early morning walk.  He also had his own obligations.  In fact he was just recently married and not one who you would expect would have the time to stop and help these folks.  But he did.  He dug the snow by hand and cleared the way and even used salt to protect the seniors when in case it refroze.  When the seniors asked would they could do in return he answered, "nothing for it is better to give than to receive!"  This cheered the hearts of the seniors who thanked him and the Lord for His care and provision.

         Which now of these, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that had the need?  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

          And in that story - like that of the Good Samaritan - there must be a lesson for each of us.

    Out in the highways and byways of life,

Many are weary and sad;

Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,

Making the sorrowing glad.

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.

Out of my life may Jesus shine.

Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

    Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,

Tell of His pow'r to forgive;

Others will trust Him if only you prove

True, every moment you live. 

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.

Out of my life may Jesus shine.

Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

    Give as 'twas given to you in you need,

Love as the Master loved you;

Be to the helpless a helper indeed,

Unto your mission be true. 

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.

Out of my life may Jesus shine.

Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

Now what will happen to the seniors the rest of the winter?  Only the Lord knows.

Names

          Now I'd like to have you look at the following two lists of names and tell me what they represent.
          List one : Jim, Tom, Shirley, Scott, Deb, Don, Cathy, Dan, Dave, Jeff, John, Bob, Sue, Craig, Frank, Cindy, Roy, Anne, Ken, Gail, Lois, Sharon, Bill, Ron, Linda, Dick, Phil, Larry, Harry, Mark, Sharon, Tim, Ruth.
          List two:  Bryn, Kerrigan, Maleah, Kilry, Zion, Leyani, Soliz, Audrina, Jayla, Isaac, Aiden, Abigail, Nikki, Kyler, Arielle, Amelia, Jaslyn, Ashtyn, Brailynn, Maude, Rhya, Ian, Marcail, Corbynn, Blake, Anastasia, Bentley, Camden, Lathan.
          Here's the answer.  The first list are some of the names of my students when I first taught high school, 55 years ago.  The second list are names of some of the kids who recently entered our Awana Grand Prix.
         Oh how names have changed.  Today it seems as though every parent desires to find a new name, invent a new name, or change the spelling of a name.  Each child must have a unique name and certainly not an old name.  And they will grow up with them and, unfortunately, many will deal with teachers or others mispronouncing them or not spelling them correctly.

          Nobody enjoys having their name handled incorrectly, but it happens.  My wife's name is Dianne and longtime friends still spell it Diane. She has dealt with that her entire life.  Now she has grown to expect this, but I still wonder why even those who are close to her can't learn to spell it correctly.  After all, it is her name and that is important.
          But going back to the change in names today, this trend makes me glad that I have retired from teaching.  I can't image having classes of 25-30 students with these novel names.  I had enough problems remembering names when they were the old ones like Bill and Mary.  Every semester I would face new students and face the challenge of remembering their names.  In fact, the last few years of teaching I would take pictures of groups of my students and then use these to attempt to memorize their names.  Usually after a few weeks I would finally be successful.  But years later I have forgotten most of them.
         I admit that I still have that problem today.  I am often embarrassed when I can't remember the names of folks in church and in the community that I have met.  And the older I get, the worse it becomes.
          Now not everybody has the same problem with names that I have.  When we used to be in charge of the children at Pinebrook, we would often have 70 -90 children for the week.  The first morning my wife would use her vent dummy and interview each of the kids.  By that evening she would know most of their names.  By the closing on Friday I would be fortunate if I remembered 25% of them.  And the following year I would need to start all over again.
          But names are important.  We all like to be recognized and called by our correct name.  I am impressed when somebody that I don't see very often calls me by my correct name and remembers things, hopefully good things, about me.
         But there is one who does know us by name and He knows all about us - our thoughts, our needs, and our future.  And of course I am talking about that one who has the greatest name known unto man, Jesus.  One of my favorite choruses encourages me as it shares that truth.  Here are the words.

I have a Maker, He formed my heart

Before even time began, My life was in his hands

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call

I have a Father, He calls me His own

He'll never leave me, No matter where I go

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call

Bridge

He knows me, He loves me, He wants me

He hears me when I call

He formed me, He sees me, never leaves me,

He hears me when I call 

You can listen to it here.  LISTEN

Prayer For Aging

         Now I understand that some of my readers aren't yet thinking about aging.  Most of us don't think about it until suddenly our bodies alert us to unexpected physical changes.  So if this poem isn't for you … at least not yet … maybe you can share it with one who will understand and be helped by this prayer.
          The older I become, the more I understand why some seniors are so lonely and why some become depressed, negative and bitter.  It is hard to accept the changing world around you when your body is suddenly changing.  Nobody ever really warns us about these years and it is a real test of faith to accept them with a spirit of joy and thanksgiving.
          So maybe this prayer, written by Sr. Moya Hanlen, will remind you to think about our dependence upon the Lord, especially as we age.

PRAYER FOR AGING

ALL GLORIOUS GOD, You have given me all I am and have,

and now I give it back to You to stand under Your will alone.

In a special way I give You these later days of my life.

I am one of those called by You into old age, a call not given to all,

not given to Jesus, not given to most in our world today.

I humbly ask You, grace me deeply in each aspect of that struggle.

As my physical eyesight weakens,

may the eyes of my faith strengthen

that I may see You and Your Love in everything.

As my hearing fails, may the ears of my heart

be more sensitive to the whisper of Your gentle voice.

As my legs weaken and walking becomes more difficult,

may I walk more truly in Your paths,

knowing all the while that I am held in the embrace of Your love.

As my mind becomes less alert and memory fades

may I remain peaceful in You,

aware that with You there is no need for thought or word.

You ask simply that I be there, with You.

And should sickness overtake me and I be confined to bed,

may I know myself as one with Your Son as he offers his life for

the salvation of the world.

Finally, as my heart slows a little after the work of the years,

may it expand in love for you and all people.

May it rest secure and grateful in Your loving Heart

until I am lost in You, completely and forever.

Amen