| Matthew 25:40 – “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” |
I have been going to a memory care unit every other Sunday for probably 10 years now. My friend, Greg Parks may have been the one who asked me if I would help. It all started by my saying yes to his request for assistance. It has turned into a lifetime commitment, it seems. I was recently thinking about why I keep going there, and I decided, initially, it was to help my friend Greg. Now, however, it is for a different reason. It feels similar to when my wife and I decided to have a baby. I don’t remember exactly how it went, but maybe she asked if I was ready to have one, and I said yes to her. Once the baby kicked her a few times, and she placed my hand there so I could feel what she was experiencing, it became something more. Now, that baby is married and has given us two grandchildren. What started out as a yes to my friend, Greg, is now a full blown friendship with 35 residents of memory care. I know their names, I shake their hands, I hug some, I kiss some on the cheek, and some kiss me on the cheek. Margaret never wants me to leave. She is afraid I won’t return, even though I am promising her each time. Of all the things I do, this one thing feels the most like I am serving God. “Pure religion and undefiled before the Father is this, to visit the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unspotted by the world.” Father in heaven, thank You for leading me in the paths of righteousness, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
Jeff Beall
