When =
Jesus mentioned serving the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, t=
he sick, and the prisoners—He left out one group. Mainly because it d=
idn’t exist in His day. But it does now, and I believe Jesus would ad=
d it to the others.
It’s the nur=
sing-home crowd. Medicine has created a sub-culture that lives far beyond v=
iability. Families cannot provide the round-the-clock care invalids require=
, so off they go to nursing homes. It’s a sad reality, but what else =
can you when grandma or grandpa can do nothing on their own?
=
Two-thirds of nursing home residents receive no regula=
r visitors, and a shocking number receive none whatsoever. They were dumped=
there. And often they know it. I’ll grant you, it’s hard to vi=
sit them. They don’t always smell good. It’s not easy to unders=
tand them if they talk at all. And what do you talk about? They lost contac=
t with life a long time ago so there’s no common ground anymore. R=
20;Are they taking good care of you?” “Do you need anything?=
221; “Are you comfortable?” “Is the food okay?”
It doesn’t take much until the conve=
rsation is mired in awkward silence. You gaze around the room trying not to=
stare at the streamer of drool or the flapping hands. One wishes the Lord =
would just take them home. Why put them through this indignity? This helple=
ssness?
Jesus has an answer for that: &#=
8220;Truly I say to you, as you ministered to one of the least of these, yo=
u did it unto Me.”
You say you wan=
t to serve Jesus? Head for the nearest nursing home. You’ll find Him =
in a wheelchair, waiting for you.
[credi=
t: Pastor Wayne Muri]
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
[email protected] www.grif.net
"Jesus Knows Me=
, This I Love!"