For more than 20 years I was one of the leaders of a local nursing home ministry. Every Tuesday night, singers and musicians would come from all over the county to have a church service for the nursing home residents. We had musicians who played the piano, guitars, organ, and sometimes the violin, banjo and mandolin. On a typical night we would sing three hymns, and then as many as eight people would sing individual songs. At the end of the service, I would preach a short sermon.
One night during my sermon I suddenly and unexpectedly said that one day we would look back on these church services as “the good old days”. After I said it, people were looking at me with puzzled expressions, because the room was filled with elderly people, many in poor health, in pain, crippled in wheelchairs, recovering from operations, and some had no family to visit them. Yet I believe it was the Holy Spirit who was speaking through me.
It didn’t take long for the prophecy to come to pass. Just a few days later the COVID-19 pandemic came to America, and the nursing home was quarantined. Not only were our church services canceled, but we soon found out that many of the nursing home residents lost their lives.
So, take time to appreciate the good things that God is doing around you right now. These might be your “good old days” as well. And when you preach to people, keep in mind that they may be listening to their last sermon.
David, I’m so glad you shared this as it really touches me because I know the joy and pain of working in nursing home and assisted living ministries. And I know that the residents are very much blessed to receive from a ministry like yours, They may not have long and may not be there for the next service. It means so much to them. And, I bet like me, you have been blessed by doing this wonderful service.
What a grand wake up call! Thanks for sharing. Like I shared earlier in another testimony – this world as we know it is passing so to appreciate every moment because it could be the last of such.