Grandview and Windsor Gardens

Have you thought about how your “action” always causes a “reaction” from either you or someone else? Well Flames of Love are no strangers to that line of thinking. If you have read our articles about moving here and becoming acquainted with FC and Edna Parrish, you have also read how we were invited, through them, to sing at the Campbellsville Church of the Nazarene. This in turn led us to meet Karen Reed, who invited us to participate in the Nursing Home Week; in which we sang at the Grandview Nursing Home and also the Windsor Gardens. With this, we met Paula. I don’t know her last name but that isn’t important. I’m just letting you know how the actions and reactions work…especially when God is involved. He knows who He wants you to meet. He knows the purpose they will have in your life and in His plan for not only you but others as well. I said all that to give you an example of how God works.

We had a truly blessed time with the people at both Grandview and Windsor Gardens. Everyone seemed to enjoy the music and while we didn’t have much conversation with the “seniors” we were able to chat some with the dedicated workers.

Many may think ” why would you bother going to those places to “minister; they probably didn’t even know you were there?” I beg to differ with you on that line of thinking. You should try it for yourself sometime. Many of these folk seem to have been forgotten by family and friends. They are lonely. And while it may seem they are forgotten by relatives and others, they have NOT been forgotten by God. Those who were His when their bodies and minds were strong, still remain His, and deserve to hear from Him in the way we minister. Some may not know who we are, but I dare say most with strong clarity of thinking don’t either. Yet at the same time, to witness the bright smiles on those faces when you sing about our Lord God is priceless. It’s true that in these situations, you may not know whether or not you’ve “touched” someone due to the seeming lack of response. But we’ve learned in our various venues, not to judge by outward expressions. To give you a “for instance”, we had been invited to sing at a community event through the suggestion of a family member. While we were singing, we watched the crowd, looking to see how we were received. We looked at our family and noticed they were “sinking” deeper and deeper into their seats. Charles began to think, “we must not be coming across very well” and thought we should pack up and go home. Later when we talked with the family about it, we found out they were so “absorbed, and so enjoying the music that they were just “leaning back” to absorb even more; take it ALL in. Another time we were in concert at a church and a man came in a bit late; came about 1/2 way down the aisle and sat down. He proceeded to fold his arms and had the “look” about him as if to say, “Bless me if you can, I DARE you”. Part way through the concert I went down the aisle while singing, took his hand and noticed tears tracking down his face. Absolutely we remember “you can’t judge a book by it’s cover”. So while we may not accurately “read” our audience, we wait and see what happens later; and trust that we were able to give them a few moments of joy from the Father while at the same time witness with the dedicated staff. We met some wonderful people on staff and enjoyed very much our time with them and the “seniors”.

The folk at the Windsor Gardens Assisted Living facility, have been asking Paula, “When are you going to have Flames of Love back?”. Paula called and scheduled us for visits in June and July. So much for US not knowing how we were received. The proof comes back to us in what we hear from others later. The Father often, after concerts in which we feel we’ve failed due to “lack of response”, tells us “You touched more than you know. Wait and see comes of it.” It’s not about being asked back, it’s about the phone calls; the notes; the later conversations that tell us we’ve been the blessing God sent us there to be.

There are evidences of this posted on a few of the pages that tell us what has transpired with the folk after we left but due to God sending us there.

I would suggest that you find the time to go visit those in the nursing and assisted living facilities. You might discover that YOU are the one blessed. Things are not always as they seem. Find out what reaction YOUR action causes. (An added note here, inaction can cause reactions as well.)

God bless those in these facilities and the staff who serve them.

 

‘Til next time, Maxine