I cried today!

I cried today. Not just a small cry but a cut wrenching cry fest! The first Thursday of every month our church goes to a local resthome and ministers to the residents. We have been doing this ministry for as long as I have been alive. I have just started going back to the resthome in the last couple of months and at every service there is a sweet man names Odus that I talk to. He wasen't at last nights service so I enquired and found his room. When I walked into the room I was taken aback. There were two small twin hospital beds, a night stand, and a tv. Nothing else! There was 1 cork board in the room that had 1 handmade valentines day card on it and I had to wonder weather it was a grandchild's card or one that was given out by the nursing home. When it comes to the elderly I have a very soft heart because I know that each of us are going to grow old and possibly be put into a home such as the one we visit. Are we going to have family who comes to visit? Are we going to be put in rooms such as this one? I stayed a few minutes with Odus and as I walked out I made a point to look in the residents rooms. Some were filled with material things and beautiful flowers. Some were just like Odus's. It's at this point that I realize that Odus and his room mate must not have a lot of visits or someone who really cares about them enough to make them feel "at home" in their final earthly home. I left the home and cried all the way home. I then cried when I got home. While I get up in the morning I have all sorts of things to look foward to and be thankful for. I can go to a closet full of clothes, I can spend time with my puppies, I can go for a walk to see my grandmother, and I can get in my car and ride to town. Odus can do none of these. He simply gets up in the morning and thanks god for another day of life. I made a decision last night. I decided that I am going to try to go and start visiting Odus and some of the other residents not just on church day. I also decided to start collecting and taking things with me to give some of the residents. You know things that might make them feel a little more at home. The first thing I am going to take Odus and his room mate are blankets. All they had were thin blankets and that was about it. From there I will take books, pillows, shoes, etc.