Disciple a Senior

When we think about following Christ and what the cost is; many of us think about the days when disciples were martyred for their faith. Some may think of those who are in foreign countries being tortured or killed for their belief. The thought of modern day Christians suffering for their faith in the United States is almost unheard of. We just don’t think about it. Why should we? We have the freedom to believe what we believe.

Today the cost is less extreme where punishment is concerned. However, it is no less a cost where giving up self is concerned. How many of us are willing to give up our spare time to reach out to someone in need? We are always too busy. What little time we do have we cherish for ourselves. When we are not working we have to clean our homes; work in the yard or visit family and friends.
We simply do not have spare time to give up in order to reach out to another soul who is lonely.

I am convicted in my innermost being of how selfish and self-centered I have been with my time. There is so little of it that I don’t want to give up what I do have. It doesn’t occur to me to get up an hour earlier. Nor to perhaps stay up an hour later. And what about all the hours I spend in front of the television? Lately, I find myself asking,
“What if Jesus felt the same way about His time?”
Suppose He thought, “I am too tired today to teach or heal anyone.” Yet, his main concern was not for himself but for the lost sheep. He was constantly helping others even when he wanted to be alone. The only way Jesus could get time alone with the Father was if he woke up early in the morning while it was still dark. But he did it. And because he made this effort to be with our heavenly Father, he was able to get through the long, stressful days of healing, teaching and being ridiculed. He did not depend on his own strength, but the strength of God.
Our elderly population needs our love, encouragement and time. Like Jesus, we need to depend on
God’s strength. For those of you who are not comfortable or do not feel you have what it takes; just think of them as you grandparents. Or find out from the Activity Director of a Long Term Care facility who would enjoy cards and letters. Just do something to let Christ’s light shine to those who live in a dark world of loneliness and despair. Give these residents hope in where they will soon be. I can guarantee, if you take the focus off you and on the senior, you will walk away with a sense of joy you can only get from serving God’s loved ones.