by JoJo Moffitt
I will not question God and how He works in my life even though sometimes I’m tempted. I believe that everything which comes into my life (and in the same token, your life) is “Father-filtered.” Over the years, my husband and I have been hospital patients MUCH more than we would have ever wanted to be. These times of illness and surgeries have made us very aware of how much it means when people love and care for the sick!
I love to visit the hospital but to stay is another story. But there are always teachings and laughter through each situation. One of the funniest was when they said I could see my husband after surgery and the recovery room stay. That should have been about 11:00 a.m. After not hearing anything by 12:30 p.m., I proceeded to ask the volunteer clerk to check on him. She looked at the day’s surgery schedule and said, “Oh, you would expect not to hear anything yet; it should take some time. He was scheduled for an autopsy.” (She said “autopsy” instead of “biopsy.” I tried not to laugh; I surely didn’t believe it had come to that!)
Through situations that have come our way, I now more so know what needs people have during times like this, and I have learned firsthand from many how to meet needs. For example, when ladies from the missionary circles at our church learned that both my husband and I were down with surgeries at the same time, they sent meals for weeks (enough to feed our entire family) and thought to include a pleasant note with each meal.
Here are some things we can do for others at crisis times:
- Call someone who is sick or hurting. Call briefly and pray with the person before you close.
- Share a meal with a needy person.
- Make a list of folks who are shut-ins. The list might include those in the hospital, a mother with a new baby, someone grieving or a person ill at home. Pray for these folks and weekly choose a few to whom you could write a few lines of encouragement. Tell them you are praying for them.
- Go to the hospital to visit the shut-ins. Be sure to tell them you are praying for them.
- Offer to run errands. Shop for groceries, run to the bank, help get the children home from school, help children with their homework, wash and/or iron clothes, or clean the house. In fact, if a few ladies work together, doing these few chores will go quickly and efficiently. Certainly, whatever is done will be a blessing.
Don’t look for a blessing. Go be one. So many people are hurting and needing help. It is so much fun to care. I’m so glad I’m learning because I’ve first been there. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (I John 4:11)
