Heavenly Joy

 by Macy Johnson

“Each of us should please his neighbor

for his good, to build him up.”

(Romans 15:2 NIV)

 

I approached a lady seated in a wheelchair at the nursing home. “I watched you sing with us today,” I said, expecting a smile or some other acknowledgement of my words. She stared at me and I sensed confusion. So, I followed up with, “You have the prettiest eyes.” A glimmer of love shone on her face. 

 

In between songs, a friend leaned over to me and asked, “Do you see that man in the corner with his eyes closed and mouth open? Is he asleep or can he hear us?” A memory crept into my mind as I looked over in that direction. He reminded me of how my Daddy seemed in his last years on earth. As my father’s Alzheimer’s disease progressed, he became more withdrawn.

 

“Maybe he can hear us,” I replied to my friend. “We don’t know what is going on in his mind, but God knows.” Then we sang the next uplifting song of praise, and I could hear the angels singing with us.

 

A dear friend who recently lost her father sat across from me. I occasionally glanced in her direction and noticed her fight back tears as she sang in heavenly tones. They were tears of joy. Her “Pops” was in the paradise we were singing about.

 

I waved good-bye to a resident who appeared more alert than the others. She called out, “Please come back next week!”

 

We worshipped God in the nursing home. Our songs were not as important as our presence. Any excuse is a good reason to be with those who need Jesus’ touch.

 

I will take heavenly joy and the hope of Jesus to the forgotten and those around me. I hope you will, too!