By: Dr. Jacquelyn Simmons
Scripture: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth… (I Corinthians 13: 1-8a).
Dear our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Our beloved Advocate, our Healer, our Lawyer, oh, the list of descriptions is endless, this servant of God has been trying during this previous set of articles to ask You, beseech You, to call to the Father’s attention, the painful, indescribable plights of some of His children. However, during this discourse, this writer also wants to call to Your and His attention to some of the blessings many of Your caregivers have bestowed on me.
In my case, I can truthfully state that the majority of my caregivers were/are loving, kind, considerate, patient, and in many “trying “situations, some of them obviously went/are going above and beyond their paid and required call of duties to assure me of adequate care and comfort. They avidly have, by the grace of God, chosen to follow the characteristics of true Christians and caregivers You gave the Apostle Paul in our text to impart to all of us and those who practice in their professional trainings to provide above adequate care for His people whether they are very ill or in hospice.
Because you are omniscient (all knowledge), You already know what became of one of my first cousins, a female retiree from the United States Army and school system as well… Our family, stressed beyond human description, after having been swiftly forced to remove her from one of your caregiving facilities due to being told she would be “dumped” in her home’s front yard in a few hours, was accepted in another facility. But, every time family members and friends visited her, she said in a continuously weakening voice, “They dropped me”. Well, we found that fact difficult to believe until it actually occurred during one of their visits. To add insult to injury, devoted family members purchased lovely clothing, sleeping and lounging attire, cosmetics, and whatever else they felt would add to her comfort as much as possible, but always upon their return, she was dressed in the same facility’s furnished garb. Upon inquiry of their whereabouts, no one could remember ever having received them for her, so it was hopeless to continue to question the staff members. Our family considered that the last straw and chose to move her to another facility but…
My friends, it is a well-known fact among true dedicated caregivers, a beloved one needs a sincere concerned family members/friends to be at their loved one’s bedside 24/7. But many times…If grave occupants could speak as in the movies…
