Simple Gestures, Great Love

Simple Gestures, Great Love

The King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

Matthew 25:40

My parents cared for my elderly Aunt Adah, who for years lay paralyzed and rigid until the Lord lovingly released her to be with him. Her hospital bed was in my parents’ living room so she could be in the center of daily life rather than shut off in a back bedroom.

Numerous relatives and most of her church friends forgot about her, but her minister, Pastor Ron Clark, and two church members, Billie Schneider and Patricia Marsden, often stopped in to say hello. Aunt Adah could no longer talk, and her facial muscles were locked, so visitors couldn’t receive even a grateful smile from the one who once had been highly active.

Pastor Clark read the Scriptures and then gave Aunt Adah Communion, breaking the soft bread morsel into tiny crumbs she could swallow. Sometimes he also read a simple book with an encouraging theme.

Billie hadn’t forgotten how much Aunt Adah loved to hear her sing on Sunday mornings, so she continued that ministry, giving a miniconcert for a bedridden audience of one.

Patricia stayed with Aunt Adah when Mother and Dad had a rare social function they wanted to attend together.

These folks came to minister to Aunt Adah, but their loving gestures provided glimpses of the Lord for the rest of the family as well. Often the simplest gesture can show the greatest love. —SANDRA

Lord, help me to show your reality by reaching out to others. Remind me that providing an occasional meal or offering to stay with a bedridden family member so the rest can attend church together are forms of ministry too. I want to see beyond my little world so others can see you.

The things we do today, sowing seeds or sharing simple truths of Christ, people will someday refer to as the first things that prompted them to think of Him.

—GEORGE MATHESON (1842–1906), SCOTTISH THEOLOGIAN AND PREACHER