The Nursing Home

The choir that Taylor and I sing in at church is preparing for our annual cantata(not really sure what that means). We basically sing about Christ's birth and there is some really cool narration that goes along with it. A lot of people come for the event...not because we are fantastic singers or anything, but mostly because this is the only time of year people choose to go to church. The choir has been working really hard preparing for the "big event" with lots of practices!! We also had a dress rehearsal yesterday at the nursing home across the street from church. Our church visits this nursing home every week to sing and pray with the people there. I'm not sure if any of you out there have darkened the doors of a nursing home lately, but let me just say that it is a humbling experience. I think anyone out there who is grumbling and whining about the person who took your parking space at the mall or doesn't know how to smile because there's "so much to do" should visit their local nursing home. The choir arrived and the nurses and therapists at the nursing home began wheeling people in...mostly all women and maybe a few men...all in wheelchairs, all in gowns with socks on their feet, one with a slightly deflated "Happy B'day" balloon attached to her chair, a few asleep, but needless to say they were all so happy just to have some visitors. We began singing. The looks on the faces of these women and men was so priceless. It really was if they were hearing music for the first time. I'm not sure if their faces brightened because of this time of year or if they just enjoyed hearing us sing "Joy to the World". Regardless of the reason, I cried. I'm not sure how long I cried, but it was for awhile. The pure emotion that I had was so unexpected. It was such a typical Sunday in the morning. I was actually dreading the day because it was going to be so busy...off to church, no rest, feed kids and eat lunch quickly, don't change into comfy clothes, can't read the Sunday ads in the paper b/c there's no time. I wasn't looking forward to rushing to and fro, here and there. I was thinking of all the things I had to get done before Christmas...shopping not done, gifts not wrapped, cookies not made, cards not sent, laundry piled up, beds unmade, etc. As I looked into the faces that came to watch us sing, I realized my selfishness. And I realized the main purpose for why we came...to show love. To show Christ's love. Another life lesson that it's not about me.