"Who Are You Waiting For?

The Christmas season includes a lot of anticipation. We anticipate of course gifts we need to buy, gifts we would love to receive, visits to and from family and friends, Christmas parties and even the arrival of the Messiah. But for many of our elderly living in nursing homes, anticipation is a lost word. For many of them, statiscally about one-half of them will not receive a visitor from anyone, nor will they receive a gift. For many of them, Christmas is just another day. At Christmas we should stop to remember who are elderly really are. They are our mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, and even old friends. They are the people that conceived us, fed and clothed us, protected us, went to war for us, sacrificed for us, made sure we had plenty for Christmas, they played with us, taught us, mentored us, and loved us. They gave us hope.

Now, for many of them they lanquish, forgotten, and alone. What do you anticipate for this Christmas season? Who are you waiting for? The elderly living in nursing homes are waiting too, but sadly many of them have given up. They have lost hope. It's not hard to lift someone out of hopelessness. A simple gift bought, wrapped and taken to a nursing home can make someone's Christmas full of hope. A few caring minutes and you can change someone's life.

I have yet, in the 16 years of this ministry to leave a nursing home feeling nothing less than the euphoria that comes with knowing you did a good thing, knowing that you made someone's day, and experiencing a very deep satisfaction.

You take my advice, look in the yellow pages of your telephone book, under "nursing homes." Call one that is near you. Ask for the activities director, and then tell them that you have purchased some gifts for a man or a woman who might need a "Santa" this Christmas, and when would be a good time to stop by and visit with someone.

Then check out our gift basket ideas and put together a gift basket. It doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, just something you make from your heart. The person you give that gift to will know what you are trying to do and they will love you for it.

So, what are you waiting for? Christmas is coming! Have a very Merry Christmas!