Heroes in Our Midst

Yesterday I went on a couple of visits to two people from my church. The first is a man around 76 years old, in the hospital before heart surgery. He and his wife are the caregivers to their teenage granddaughter, while her mom works a night shift and the father is unknown. This elderly couple both remain active in our church, helping with teaching youth club, cooking and other events. Their granddaughter will begin her freshman year of high school this fall. She is a very responsible youth and is also very active around the church. I admire this family because they care for family, and care for their church family, and will do everything in their power to raise their grandchild in a Christian environment. They also provide for her financially and continue to work to pay the bills.

The other visit was to a woman turning 92 this week! She has lived in her neighborhood for so long that after a few years later the church moved in a couple homes down from her. She has since attended this church, has been a prayer warrior for our church and community, has seen all the changes this church has gone through, and either walked or drove to church every week even with a walker, until just a few months ago (until just a few months ago, people!) when getting around was becoming more difficult for her. I truly look up to her as a foundational part of this community, so positve, so cheery, so encouraging, so down to earth yet so close to God.

Part of my ministry includes pastoral visitation, and I am so touched by every person I get to meet and get to know better throughs my visits. Every life is so unique, and every story so rich and deep. I think this is why I enjoy blogsurfing so much. Even though I may not leave a comment on many of them, I pick up lots of learning and insights along the way.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." Romans 12:6a