Head down and arms laden with books, the woman scooted into the nursing home room. There were no foot rests on her wheelchair and books kept her from turning the wheels, so she motored across the floor using her feet. Small in stature and barely looking ahead, her eyes were not visible as she entered the room. Not a powerful or attention-getting entry, but the love of God radiated from her.
I was visiting my friend A, who has fought Huntington’s disease and lived in a nursing home for over a decade. Due to her disease, A’s speech is now limited to single guttural words and cries. Her joyful response to the woman in the wheelchair needed no words. A’s face brightened and she let out a cry of joy, matched by increased spastic movements of her arms. Seeing A’s excitement, I wondered about the visiting woman. When she scooted closer to A’s wheelchair, I noticed growths on every area of her exposed skin: face, arms, and legs. I wondered if mobility caused her pain or if she lived with chronic pain.
After introducing myself, the woman responded with a soft, “I’m J.” Then J explained her purpose: she visited A to read devotions to her. In addition to her Bible, J carried three devotion books in her arms. What a faithful gift of wheelchair-to-wheelchair devotions that J shared with A! I don’t know how frequently she visited, but from A’s reaction, I guessed it was often.
J probably didn’t know that she was an answer to prayers for A. On my infrequent visits, A enjoyed when I prayed for her, but I didn’t know if anyone else prayed with her. I assumed that J was a chaplain, but the receptionist later told me that J lived in the building and visited other residents as a volunteer. J’s obvious dedication to God and faithful visits are not accomplished for money. She likely sets aside her own pain and mobility issues to visit others for wheelchair-to-wheelchair devotions. That makes her sacrifice even more precious. J serves where God has placed her and shares Jesus with people who don’t get many visitors. J’s wheelchair-to-wheelchair devotions are a sweet gift of love and ministry. J exemplifies this Bible verse:
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11
Lord God, thank you for J and her love for others. Please bless her wheelchair-to-wheelchair devotions. Let J’s time with A be an encouragement and a blessing for both of them. Help J to keep serving in your strength and for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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