BGEA: I'm a Christian in a nursing home. Is there any way I can help people here?

I gave my life to Jesus when I was 12, and now over 70 years later I'm in a nursing home and still rejoicing in Him. But most of the people here don't know Jesus, and it's hard to communicate with some of them. Is there any way I can help them? Most of them will be gone in a few years, and then it will be too late. — Mrs. H.S.

Thank you for your letter—and thank you also for your many years of faithfulness to Christ. I'm often asked if Christ really makes any difference in a person's life, and you are living proof that He does.

I'm also thankful for your concern for others, particularly those around you in your nursing home. It would be easy for you to spend all your time feeling sorry for yourself, or worrying about what might happen to you someday—but instead you're concerned about others, and that is a valuable lesson. Often the best way to deal with our own problems is to try to help someone else. The Bible tells us to "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).

What can you do? First, pray for those around you. God is able to do what we cannot do, and He is able to speak even to someone who has no interest in Christ or can't understand. Then gently but clearly let others know how much Christ means to you, and what He can mean to them. Offer to pray with them, as well.

I know old age isn't an easy time of life—but it would be even harder if we didn't know Christ was with us. And ahead of us is heaven! But no matter how old or young we are, we need Christ, for He alone is "the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6).

5 Comments

Linda Benney says 11.2.2011, 1:28 p.m.

Wow Mark what an amazing testimony! It actually made me cry!

Betty says 10.9.2011, 10:37 p.m.

My mother is 91 and I want to leave a comment of tribute to her. She raised my brother and me to adulthood by herself, except for the help of family members. Our dad left our home when I was a baby. My mother took such good care of us, even while caring for my aging grandmother. Eula is Mother's name, and I love her so very much. She was saved at the age of 25 and raised my brother and me to know the Lord. I am eternally grateful to her and to our extended family for all the love they showed us.

Robert says 10.9.2011, 12:43 a.m.

I am 78. I have served as a pastor, missionary and also chaplain over the past 58 years. I've learned that ministering to the elderly is a joy and privilege. I trust that Billy's life may continue to impact many for the glory of God, as it has mine.

Christine says 10.7.2011, 1:37 p.m.

@Mark, that is an amazing testimony. Thank you for sharing that. May we all continue to reach out to those around us, at whatever stage and place we are in life.

mark says 9.26.2011, 7:56 p.m.

My father in law was a non believer in a nursing home. Once on a visit his daughter found the TV turned to a christian station in her fathers room. She asked him about his choice of stations and he replied " the nurse turns it to that station if i am asleep and places the remote out of my reach." He eventually accepted the Lord and told his daughter that some thing he heard on the TV lead him to the Lord. He confessed his sexual abuse of his daughters, and asked for forgiveness before he passed away.