Two weeks before Christmas and I never thought the weekend would end: Part Two

I mentioned that this past weekend we had a family wedding. The weekend before that was crammed with Christmas activities (parTAY!).

Seriously, every hour of that weekend, I was thanking Jesus that another hour of my life was over.

(Some backstory - Mr Lemon and I visit a couple of nursing homes in our area periodically. One in particular we are a regularly scheduled event, every two weeks. The residents no longer have their complete mental capabilities, but they are so sweet. We usually have 10-12 in attendance for our services, and we know them by name. We're not sure they remember our names, but they remember us being there, and they definitely remember the baby. I was uncertain about taking him with us, but once he got to be about 3 months old we decided this ministry was a family thing. Now, if he isn't with us, they ask about him!)

(The other one we've been to a few times, but it is a completely different atmosphere. They are well-off, in an assisted living retirement center. They show up when there is a scheduled event. It was intimidating at first because I know that many of these residents have lived a life of faith and service to the Lord in a completely different way than Mr Lemon and I live. But, then I got over myself and decided if they don't like it, they won't come back. As usual, my intimidations are unfounded and the mostly female "congregation" returned each time we've been over there.)

And so, when the Junior Choir headed by Sis Pastor's Wife learned several songs for a Christmas service, we thought it natural to take them to visit our two other little churches. There was a lot of driving around, a lot of 8-14 year old YAK YAK YAK YAAAAK in the van.

A lot of minutes passing, and a lot of me saying "Please God, make it STOP."

We also visited an elderly couple in our church for some good old fashioned caroling. They just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in October.

The husband is dying of cancer.

My attitude got a very quick readjustment when we walked into their home. I'd been praying for the minutes to pass quickly, and this family is praying for the clock to stop so they can have just a little while longer with their beloved Husband. Father. Grandfather. Great-grandfather.

He is such a precious, godly man. The children respectfully filed in and gathered around him to sing Christmas songs. Pastor and Sis Pastor's Wife were there as well, and we prayed with him, and sang a few other songs.

Then, he rose from his chair and began to pray for all of us. He laid his hand on the kids' heads and blessed them. In that moment, I could hear the cry of Esau to be blessed too. I saw this ailing saint make his way into the kitchen where he held his bride of fifty years and prayed for her.

Memories like that are priceless. If I could have paid to have a moment like that with my Grandpa before he died, I would have sold everything.


(This is him with Zesty, from my phone 4 months ago.)

Mr Lemon and I treasure every moment we have with the senior citizens that we minister to, because we do not know if it is the last time on this earth we'll see them. Take a few minutes this holiday season and hug an old person.

It is time well spent.