A few years ago while Willard and I were doing the Sunday school at the nursing home, the nurses aides brought in a new resident. The new resident was a tiny little black man, bent over as he sat in his wheelchair. A stroke victim. Even though he was in such bad shape he had a smile on his face that seemed to brighten the whole room. After singing and giving the Bible study, Willard and I would always stop and have personal conversations with all the residents. And while this little man was new, of course I wanted to find out his name and a little something about him. I remember like it was yesterday, I could barely understand a word he said. He kept repeating what I thought were the words, Java like some coffee. And I really didn't understand that he was trying to tell me his name, I really thought he wanted a cup of coffee. So I asked a nurse's aide about getting him one. The aide chuckled and whispered to me," no Joan, that's his name". A few weeks passed, and I was learning to understand him some better. And I remember, he asked me to sing a special song for him. The song was," I know that my Redeemer lives" I did not have the music for it, but I made him a promise that I would get it and sing it, the next time we came. I went to the Bible bookstore uptown, and found the track of the song. I worked hard that week learning the song and finally getting all the notes close to right, lol. Well, I even got where I could sing it pretty good. But nowhere near what the original artists, Mueller could.
So that next Friday when Willard and I went to sing and give the Bible study, I know my Redeemer lives was the first track that I took out to play. As I started to sing the song, tears came to Java's eyes, and he started crying uncontrollably. Of course I started crying too and could not finish the song. It is still to this day hard for me to sing that song completely through. Java loves the Lord so very much that 'not my singing', but that song touches his heart.
Willard came home the other day from giving the Sunday school lesson. He said Java was not present. He had gone down to visit him in his room. You see Willard and I both think a lot of Java. It seems that Java is getting worse off. He lies there very frail, just looking out the window, as if he's looking for Jesus to come.
Please, if you won't mind taking just a little time in your day, say a prayer for Java, and for all those sweet wonderful people at 'not only' Golden Years Nursing Home, but all nursing homes throughout the world. They are fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers. They are the old aunt or uncle that a niece or nephew dearly loves. They all are now in the last home as Mr. Maynard said before heaven. Many, many have outlived friends and families, and have no one, and are truly very lonely.
If any of you want to do something good in this world, go to a nursing home, read some Bible verses to one or all of the residents, you'll make their day. And, your heart will grow tremendously. You'll find out just how much love you can truly hold.
until next time, I wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.