Human Touch

Here are two cards we made at our Card Ministry gathering last night. It was a lot of fun! These cards will go to the elderly of the church from the pastors. I am so happy to be able to provide some joy for others who have so little to look forward to at times.
Can you imagine what it will be like for some to get a card from their pastor for Christmas? So many might not have many friends left to get cards from.
I remember my grandfather reading the paper every day saying, "I have to read if another friend has died today." He outlived his wife, and only two sons.....such sadness one person should not have to endure. When I'd visit sometimes he'd be sobbing in his dining room as he looked at the pictures of his wife and two sons..........such sadness was hard to take. He always asked why they'd been taken and he'd been left. I'm not sure if he was sad or guilty for being here and they weren't.
I think in a way that's a reason for my soft spot for the elderly with the card ministry. I want to make sure they are not forgotten. I saw how my grandfather was with so much time on his hands when he could no longer drive.
He was used to going to McDonald's and hanging out with the guys there, "shooting the breeze", he'd call it. He used to go to the grocery store every day just to have someone to talk to. Yet, he didn't want to live with anyone. He loved his solitary life. He did love visitors too. It saddens me that most of my family just sat back and watched this man go downhill and never lifted a hand to help. I became his guardian which many fought, yet didn't want the job. I visited daily to make sure he had his medicine, he had meals prepared and was safe.
He ended up in a nursing home for the last 5 years of his life, and they were by far the BEST years as far as quality of life goes. He had a greenhouse to work in, a chapel right there and was taken to dinner with other residents once a month.
I miss my grandfather who died just weeks before his 98th birthday in 1998. Yes, he was born in 1900. We used to marvel at all of the many inventions he'd witnessed the discovery of in his lifetime. He used to fix adding machines and all kinds of bank machines at a local bank chain. Those of course were replaced with the computer and internet. Do kids of today even know what a typewriter is, how about a record album or 8-track tape? Those were things that were in my lifetime.
Now each time a holiday rolls around, I make sure that there are plenty of cards to be sent to those that need a bit of a human touch. Think about it, are there any people in your sphere of influence that need a human touch?
Blessings and Hugs until next time.

Two more cards we made at Card Ministry last night. These will go to gentlemen in the church who can use Congratulations for something or who are in the hospital with something that they may not get over. I felt Get Well just wasn't appropriate for this type of illness. I am truly enjoying this ministry and meeting the wonderful ladies who come each month to talk and make cards for others. We've made 155 cards so far. We had to donate another box to hold all of the cards. Praise God for such blessings in our lives.
Praise Him for your abilities to do for others.
Bless you until next time.