Senior Singing

We went to go visit my great aunt, Della Mae, in Lifecare yesterday.  It was a great visit, when sometimes I leave feeling a great sense of loss and sadness.  She has dementia and doesn't remember who I am many of the times that I go and visit.  I feel like I have already lost her because she isn't the same.  She is still as sweet as ever, even if she asks me the same questions five times in a visit.

We went during senior singing yesterday and I was glad to get to sit by her and sing hymns as I used to do as a child.  One of the things that upset her the most when having to go into Assisted Living was not being able to go to church.  I am so thankful to everyone who ministers to the residents!  There are several preachers who come weekly and others who come to sing.  It is such a blessing to the ones who are no longer able to attend church.

A group of people mostly from Copeland's Chapel come faithfully every Monday afternoon to sing with the residents.

There are also three gentlemen who play the guitars and a pianist.  They are very talented and have played together for years.

They sing a few then let the residents request some they would like to sing.  It was so sweet to sit there and watch them all sing.  It means something different to sing hymns about heaven in a room such as this, since they will be going there sooner, more than likely.   

I know some who have a phobia about going to nursing homes because it can be uncomfortable.  I have a funny story about that one.  Last summer my friend Jamie kept getting a call from a lady in NHC.  She was dialing the wrong number but after many times, Jamie felt like she needed to just go and visit the woman who had been calling her.  She has a major phobia about going to nursing homes, so I told her I would go with her.  I practically had to drag her in there because she almost turned around and walked out.  It was my mission to make her face her fears.  lol.

I look at them and wonder what they were like when they were younger.  What kind of mom were they?  What did they do for a living?  What all have they lived through?  Do they have many who come to visit them?  What are they thinking about when they stare off unresponsively?  Are they ready to just go to their heavenly home if they are a believer?

After several requests are made,  any of the residents are invited to come up and sing a special.  I just laughed to myself and thought this will be me when I am old.  I sure hope I will have an attitude like this woman then.  She carried her worn bible in and got up and sang a song with words from Proverbs 15:13, "A

merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."

Della Mae and I went and sang a special too.  We sang "Unclouded Day"☺ 

Once all the specials are finished, members of the Copeland's Chapel group sing a few more and then everyone is dismissed after prayer. 

It was a blessing. 

“The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.” Proverbs 16:31

“Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.

I am the Lord.”  Leviticus 19:32