We consider it a valuable investment in people who don't have much control over their lives.
After a night supervising a youth program, we're tired. After visiting a nursing home, we're broken.
People are beautiful in every stage of life. Debilitating diseases can hit any of us. Folks don't choose to have a stroke, dementia or rheumatoid arthritis.
Gangsters make choices that destroy lives. It's not easy to work with them, and it's best to have a hard head with an expectation that you might save one out of twenty. Ministry is hardest when a guy dies or goes to jail. Ministry is beyond hard when a sweet lady in a wheelchair, who can't even feed herself , smiles and tells you how wonderful life is. Her eyes smile as she tells you how wonderful you are because you moved her wheelchair.
Ministry is hard when a 90 yr. old man searches the whole floor for a gift to give a small child who gave him a Christmas card. His confusion blends with compassion and a desire to give a gift.
Ministry is hard when a lady lays in bed groaning and pulling on her teeth in pain. You know she's hurting, but you can't understand her. You stand there and pray.
We did give everyone a Jesus Wristband and the ones who knew what they were acted happy and grateful. YWAP is grateful to Miss Betty for arranging the Christmas Celebration at Mercy Skilled Nursing Facility At OLV. Santa gave out presents along with the Erie County Sheriff's Department.
The party was on Saturday and the heaviness lingers when we think about the folks who light up with joy in spite of a hard life. They had an impact on us; they've caused us to be more grateful to God for the opportunity to feel love in such a way. We'd like to think that our compassion muscles will grow stronger as a result of being broken by their love. Thanks for taking the time to read this.