Every Friday night, before we sing on Saturday, I text the nursing home activities director,“Are we still good for tomorrow?” She usually answers with a thumb’s up emoji, but one week she sent the message,“Please lead the residents in patriotic music, around the flagpole out front, for Armed Forces Day.”
My wife and I eagerly arrived the next morning, expecting to see everyone gathered, but there was no one out front. Inside, I found two of our regular sing-along attenders, but they knew nothing about the change. Disheartened, I trudged back out to the car. “It’s a typical weekend mix-up,” I told my bride, sounding sorry for myself. She encouraged me to go back in—one more time—and look for the assistant activities director, Nichole.
Back inside, I found her—looking frazzled, yet focused. “We are short-staffed today,” she said. “I’ve been changing bedding.” I went from crestfallen to concerned in a blink. Nichole confirmed the flagpole plans but was unable to make them happen.“It’s too hot outside, anyway,” I offered. “May we bring everyone into the dining room?” “Sure thing!” she said.
While I unpacked and tuned up, Nichole, my wife, and a few others assembled a sizable crowd–several residents, with their children and grand children mixed in. We sang patriotic songs and favorite hymns together for about thirty minutes. It was one of the sweetest and most treasured times of song and fellowship ever! And it almost didn’t happen.
Afterwards I told Nichole how much I appreciate her going above and beyond today. “That is my calling,” she says, smiling from ear to ear. The only thing missing was two wings and a halo. I smiled, too, at the reminder: For many nursing home employees, their work is more than a job—it’s a labor of love.
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Jesus- Matthew 25:40 (ESV)
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.
This piece was first published in the Sunshine Weekly Newsletter, a publication which is shared in nursing homes and assisted living centers. A special thank you to Peter Caligiuri, aka “Pastor Pete,” for inviting me to contribute a monthly column! Peter blogs at praise2worship.net
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