a couple of observations

I sing in the church choir. I don't sing because I have a good voice. I don't believe I do. I sing because it offers me more opportunities to praise and worship God (choir practice and a song during the worship service). Because I sing in the choir and because I am currently without a job, a member of our congregation asked me to start joining a group of people who show up at one of the local nursing homes each Friday afternoon for a Hymn Sing. Well, this was another opportunity to praise and worship God so I've participated a few times in the Hymn Sing.

I want to tell you a few things about this activity. Many of the people in the singing group could very easily be a resident at any time. I told my husband that I might be the youngest by 30 years. Since I just had a big birthday, he gave me a you-are-exaggerating look to which I replied with the age of one of the people in the group. Okay, I am probably not 30 years younger than all of them but I am a LOT younger that all of them. So, I feel young when I go to sing at the nursing home. Another thing to say is that while the visiting singers (usually) need hymnals, the residents don't use books. They just sing along from memory. These people, some of whom can't remember who came to visit this morning, know the words to the songs that they learned long ago singing praises to God - all the verses (or at least verses 1, 2 and the last one)!

On one visit, I looked up from my hymnal. (I have to look at it a lot because I've never even heard of some of these songs!) When I looked up, one lady was struggling to stand. Our eyes met and she mouthed "thank you for coming" as she turned to leave the room. I don't know where she was going but she wanted me to know that she appreciate my participation. What instantly occurred to me was that my presence (all the volunteers' presence) adds value to their lives. Because volunteers take the time to show up, we indicate to these residents of the nursing home that they matter, that they are worth our time, that they have value. It was a striking revelation. I am so blessed that I do not have a job at least for a time so that I am able to do the Hymn Sing and show these older people that they have value and are worth my time. I'm sure that there are other volunteer projects that create the same revelation but I've never experienced that. This was new to me and I liked helping make her feel worthy.

Then on another visit, there was a woman seating low in a wheel-chair in the front row. She sang each song loudly knowing each word of each song. After singing a couple of songs, she said, "I have to stop now." Then she took off singing again on the very next song. After which, she repeated that she needed to stop singing again but asked to make sure that we'd continue even if she didn't. She repeated this several times. The singing was wearing her out. She was exhausted but she couldn't NOT sing the songs. She was so pulled to participate in singing God's praise, that she wore herself out. We finally stopped singing early to give the poor lady a rest. I was so inspired with this lady. How wonderful to keep going even to the point of exhaustion for love of God!

Today, we singers were handed a scroll invitation. Seems the nursing home is having a volunteer appreciation dinner in a few weeks. I may or may not be able to attend. But the offer is sure nice. It's funny that I hadn't looked at my singing at the nursing home as volunteer work. I didn't think of it like that until I received the invitation.

I don't have anything else to add. Those are just my observations of my nursing home visits on Friday afternoons at 2:00. I wish more people were able to participate. It is such an easy thing to do and a wonderful way to love God and people all at once.

Thank you, God for letting me do this if only for a short while. Amen.

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