I want to introduce you to a special friend of mine. Her name is Jessica and I have enjoyed watching her follow God to the places He has called her. About a year ago I was privileged to teach The Cause Within You (get the book and study it – incredible!). Jessica was in that class and God definitely showed her vividly the cause to which He needed her to pursue. While I am so excited to have her for a friend, I have to share I’m sad that God has called her to move to Colorado. One thing about it – when God is leading there will be adventure and I’m sure she will share the journey with us. Here’s Jessica – please leave her some comment love too!
I have always had a heart for the elderly and through the study The Cause Within You I got the confirmation that I needed.
God was prodding me and I was responding with . . . I wasn’t good enough, what if I say the wrong thing, and what if they wouldn’t like me. I finally decided to take a step and volunteer at the Portland nursing home. Not knowing how or where to start, I continued to doubt myself along the way. I was nervous and excited at the same time.
So one day, after much prayer and letting go of my anxieties, I went to the nursing home to ask if I could volunteer to visit the residents that didn’t get visitors. The activities director said I could volunteer. They were excited and asked if I would be willing to paint the ladies nails. I said yes and told them I could volunteer every Wednesday morning (which was my day off from work).
So almost every Wednesday morning from 9:30 to 11:30 since September, I have painted these ladies nails. This experience has been awesome and God has blessed me through it. I have met some sweet ladies — some that can communicate with me and some that can’t due to their age or disease.
One sweet lady is blind yet she always has a smile and gets so excited to have her nails done. One lady named Barbara was very sad and not very friendly when I first started going. So I just started asking her how she was doing and she started opening up and sharing that she was sad and not eating. I told her I would pray for her and when she realized I kept coming back she would always look forward to seeing me.
The activity lady that I volunteered under would tell me that on the days I missed due to sick kids, Barbara would always ask and worry about me. I then realized not only was she touching my life and blessing me but I was doing the same for her. Her attitude began to change. She was telling me she was happy and that she was better. She had even joined a bible study there and was enjoying it.
This experience made me realize that God can reach people through the simplest of things…painting nails, a smile, a listening ear, and someone just showing up. These ladies have blessed my life and I am so thankful God did not let me miss this experience.
This fearful, but bold, step I took taught me that even in life when unexpected or unfortunate things happen — like having your mind taken for various reasons — some people will be down or frustrated but just like these ladies you can find joy. Little things in life make a huge difference, no matter what age or season you are in!
“Little things in life make a huge difference..” This is such a very true statement! Loved reading about your Nursing Home ministry! I have a soft spot in my heart for this. For many years when our children were growing up our family went to a nursing home every other week and sang gospel songs and read Scripture for about 30 minutes.
We would get there early and go around visiting with and inviting the residents to come to the service. We got to know some of them really well and got so attached to them. It was very sad also that we lost several of them during those years. As I type this, so many stories…both sad and funny….come back to my mind. God will bless you greatly for this and you will never regret it. Thanks for sharing your story here today!
Marilyn – that is great. Love how you remember those moments and stories. God always provides such precious times when we step out to serve. It definitely is the little things!!
Beautiful idea. There are so many in nursing homes who are forgotten. So blessed to know you are doing this. Thanks for sharing.
Laura – I could so see you and your girls doing this and loving every minute of it!
What a lovely thing to do. We did this with a youth group once, and I think everyone enjoyed it. My grandmother is in a nursing home over a 15 hour drive away. I sure wish and hope someone would take the time with her like you do, Jessica. I may just need to start doing this myself! Love it!
Wonderful idea!
Little things…more often – things that we ignore and take for granted – those that we thought doesn’t matter – surely does make a BIG difference.
What a beautiful story Jessica! Thank you :)
Jessica, I am the activities director at a retirement center and soooooo love this story. I fully understand how you have been blessed, even as you’ve been a blessing. It’s a beautiful thing!