Christmas Seniors

We packed an “Operation Christmas Child” shoe-box today.  https://www.samaritanspurse.ca/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/ 

I explained to Mom that it was for an unknown child, who lives halfway around the world.

Mom: “How will she get it?”

Me: “It will go on an airplane, and then travel by boat or donkey or elephant or bicycle or even on the back of a camel.”

Mom: “Such work to get a box into the hands of a little girl!”

She was moved to tears. I was deeply touched by her grasp of it all, but I should not have been. Like a lot of us, I was looking at The Home as a place of people with limitations, rather than focusing on what they can do.  It’s a form of robbery, really. We are stealing their last years, and depleting our best years, by not spending time with them.  If Mom can make a difference in the life of a little girl who lives so far away, so can you.  And all you have to do is enter The Home where seniors live. 

The Christmas Story, in Luke 2:21-38, introduces us to four memorable seniors.  Elizabeth and Zacharias were well-advanced in age; she was barren and then they had a son, John the Baptist, who was a cousin to Jesus.  Simeon was long awaiting the promised Messiah, and was told he would not see death until he had seen Jesus, at which time he spoke to Mary and Joseph about salvation and sorrow.  Anna was an 84-year-old widow who, upon seeing the baby Jesus, went out proclaiming redemption to everyone she met.  

They were godly old people, serving as the bridge between the end of the Old Testament, (Old Covenant) and the advent of the New- the Promised Messiah had come!  None of them resented the fact that the old era was passing away.  On the contrary, they were excited and moved by the tremendous joy of being proclaimers of Jesus’ arrival.  Seniors, loved by God and serving Him into old age.  They weren’t dismissed as too old, or too senile.

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another;

for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8).

G.R.A.C.E.

God keep our land,

Redeemed by the soldier’s hand.

Affording us a hard-won peace

Courage in battle, never at ease,

Ever-remembered, let them be released.

                Released from the burden of carrying the torch

                Released from wretched memories-mind scorched.

                Flying the banner of a people set free

                Flying the banner for you and for me.

                God keep our land.

Giving up home, hearth and heart

Ready to fight, from the start

Awaiting the call to protect and keep

Comrades-at-arms, loyalty runs deep

Ever-remembered, let them be released.

                 Released from the burden of carrying the torch
                 Released from wretched memories-mind scorched.
                 Flying the banner of a people set free
                 Flying the banner for you and for me.
                 God keep our land.

Gaining freedom at such great cost

Running the gauntlet, so many lives lost.

Awakening hope, liberty gained

Calling for armistice; mercy reigns.

Ever-remembered, let them be released.

                Released from the burden of carrying the torch
                Released from wretched memories-mind scorched.
                Flying the banner of a people set free
                Flying the banner for you and for me.
                God keep our land.

G.R.A.C.E.

God's 

Riches 

At 

Christ's 

Expense

An even greater, eternal freedom has been bought with the greatest of sacrifice.

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3)

Lighten Up!

Some time ago, before Mom moved to The Home, we ended up at the hospital.  I was sure she had what is known as a UTI, a Urinary Tract Infection, which can lead to serious health issues for a senior so off we went to get a urine test.  Silly me, I asked Mom if she needed to go to the bathroom, before we left the house.

Oh my.  If walls could talk. There we were, sequestered in the sterile, hospital bathroom.  Mom on the toilet; me, urging her on, and holding that ridiculously small bottle, trying to catch her pee; don’t worry, I was wearing latex gloves.  She keeps insisting that I talk to the nurse.  So, good daughter that I am, I go and ask for a glass of cold water, haltingly explaining that I hoped, by dipping mom’s finger in the water, it might give her an urge to pee.  I explained to said nurse that Mom figured they should have a magic technique.  “Fraid not,” was the bland reply.

Back in the bathroom, Mom is looking forlorn.  Putting her fingers in the cold glass of water, she starts to giggle and then both of us were out-of-control laughing.  You know, it did the trick; I should say, the trickle.

Mom: “I did it!”

Me: “Not enough.”

Mom: “That’s all I got.”

Sheepishly, I went back to the nursing station and slipped the vial onto the counter, grateful that no one was in sight.

Mom: “Was it enough?”

Me: “I hope so, because you’re all dried up.”

More laughter, to the point of tears. She did have an infection and we got antibiotics.  I had been praying that Mom would have enough pee to make it count; I hadn’t counted on God’s sense of humour.   It was a good reminder from the Lord. ‘Take it easy on yourself, okay?  I got this!’

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. 

My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.” (Psalm 28:7)