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Through our ministry, my husband Roy and I speak and sing at conferences, banquets, 1)crusades, 2)revivals, and we also take the time to present programs at long-term care facilities across our state. We are often told how we bring joy and a spark of life to the residents. We are happy we have the opportunity to share our talents in this way.
I will never forget a particular day when we visited a nursing home to present one of our programs. Roy sang and I spoke to people sitting in wheelchairs and others who were seated beside
3)walkers.
As I stared into the crowd, I noticed some of the residents were sleeping. Others were smiling. Thankfully, most were listening. Some were even patting their feet. After the program all the residents returned to their room, except one lady.
While we were gathering up our belongings, she came over to us to tell us how much she enjoyed the program. We hugged and then exchanged small talk. She talked about her son. Then she followed with words that literally broke my heart.
“If you see my son, will you tell him I miss him?”
“Sure, I will,” I answered. I hugged her. For a few brief seconds I felt the pain she seemed to be feeling.
Now, I don’t know the situation. Her son could have been there just that morning. Time doesn’t always 4)register with elderly people. I am certain the days and hours have a way of running together when you seldom leave a place.
But then, on the other hand, it could have been weeks or months since he had visited his mother. Too many people drop their loved ones off at a nursing home, vow to return often, but get busy and rarely return.
When my father was in a nursing home, I went to see him several times a week. My mother spent most of her waking hours there in his room with him. It wasn’t easy, especially since it was sixty-five miles from my front door to his. But we were determined my father would know that we loved him, even after he forgot who we were.
I had to turn away from this sweet lady and wipe away a few tears. Then I turned back around. “My son is coming back to get me. He is going to take me home,” she announced.
I smiled and gave her another hug, wishing it was true. She walked slowly away. But once again she turned around and faced me.
“Will you tell my son that I love him when you see him?” she asked. I looked into her eyes and saw tears, beyond the smile, which automatically crossed her face just speaking of her son.
I don’t expect to ever see her son. Actually, if I did, I wouldn’t even know him. Therefore, in an effort to grant a sweet elderly lady’s heartfelt request, I am writing this story to tell everyone who has loved ones in long-term care facilities that your mother, father, aunt or uncle misses you very much. They would like for you to come and visit them. Even though you may not be able to take them home with you, you can go to their 5)meager home for a brief visit. Your presence would 6)make their day.
And don’t forget—your family member loves you with all of his or her heart. And I am certain, just like this lady, they want you to know just how much.
通过我们的牧师，我和丈夫罗伊在一些教堂集会、宴会、改革运动以及布道会上发言并演唱。我们还会前往本州各地一些长期看护机构表演节目。所到之处，经常有人对我们说，我们的表演给他们带来了欢乐和一丝活力。我们俩很高兴有机会通过这种方式来发挥我们的才能。
有一次特殊的经历使我终身难忘。那天，我们来到一家疗养院表演我们其中的一个节目。罗伊唱歌，我和那些坐在轮椅上以及坐在助步车旁边的人们聊天。
当我凝视着人群时，我注意到有些人在打盹，有些人则在微笑。幸好大多数人在倾听，甚至还有人轻轻地用脚打拍子。活动结束后，所有人都返回了自己的房间，除了一位女士。
正当我们收起我们的随身物品时，她向我们走来，告诉我们说她非常喜爱我们的节目。我们互相拥抱，然后闲谈了一会儿。她谈到了她的儿子。接着，她说了一句简直让我心碎的话：
“如果你见到我儿子，你告诉他我想念他。好吗？”
“当然，我会的。”我回答说。我拥抱了她。短短的几秒钟里，我感受到了她正在经受的痛苦。
其实，我并不知道她的具体情况。可能就在那天早上，她的儿子来过这里。老人的时间感有时是紊乱的。我知道，当你足不出户以后，时间的流逝容易变得失去意义。
然而另一方面，那位儿子上一次来看望母亲或许已是许多个星期乃至许多个月以前的事了。太多人把自己所爱的人送到疗养院，并许诺说自己会经常去看望，但是一忙起工作，他们就很少过去了。
当我父亲住在一家疗养院里时，我一周数次前去看望他。我母亲几乎终日在他的房间里陪伴左右。这并不容易，特别是因为我家距离父亲所在的疗养院有65英里（约105公里）之远。但是我们坚信，父亲会知道我们爱他，即使他已经忘记了我们是谁。
我不得不在这位和蔼的女士面前转过脸去，擦去我的泪水。然后我再转过脸来。“我儿子很快就会过来接我。他会带我回家的。”她朗声说道。
我微笑着又拥抱了她一次，但愿她的话会成真。她缓缓地走开了。不过，她又转过身来看着我。
“当你见到我儿子时，你告诉他我爱他，好吗？”她问道。我注视着她的眼睛，发现她眼带泪光，虽然她一谈到儿子脸上便会自动地泛起笑容。
我并不指望能见到她的儿子。事实上，即使我见到了，我也不会认得他。因此，为了不负一位和蔼的老人那诚挚的要求，我写了这个故事。我想告诉把自己所爱的人送到了长期看护机构的每一个人：你的母亲、父亲、姑姨或者叔舅非常想念你。他们希望你前去看看他们。尽管你可能不能带他们一起回家，但是你可以去他们的简陋小窝小坐片刻。你的出现会让他们开怀一整天。
别忘了——你的家人全心全意地爱着你。而且，我敢肯定，就像那位女士一样，他们希望你知道他们有多么爱你！
I will never forget a particular day when we visited a nursing home to present one of our programs. Roy sang and I spoke to people sitting in wheelchairs and others who were seated beside
3)walkers.
As I stared into the crowd, I noticed some of the residents were sleeping. Others were smiling. Thankfully, most were listening. Some were even patting their feet. After the program all the residents returned to their room, except one lady.
While we were gathering up our belongings, she came over to us to tell us how much she enjoyed the program. We hugged and then exchanged small talk. She talked about her son. Then she followed with words that literally broke my heart.
“If you see my son, will you tell him I miss him?”
“Sure, I will,” I answered. I hugged her. For a few brief seconds I felt the pain she seemed to be feeling.
Now, I don’t know the situation. Her son could have been there just that morning. Time doesn’t always 4)register with elderly people. I am certain the days and hours have a way of running together when you seldom leave a place.
But then, on the other hand, it could have been weeks or months since he had visited his mother. Too many people drop their loved ones off at a nursing home, vow to return often, but get busy and rarely return.
When my father was in a nursing home, I went to see him several times a week. My mother spent most of her waking hours there in his room with him. It wasn’t easy, especially since it was sixty-five miles from my front door to his. But we were determined my father would know that we loved him, even after he forgot who we were.
I had to turn away from this sweet lady and wipe away a few tears. Then I turned back around. “My son is coming back to get me. He is going to take me home,” she announced.
I smiled and gave her another hug, wishing it was true. She walked slowly away. But once again she turned around and faced me.
“Will you tell my son that I love him when you see him?” she asked. I looked into her eyes and saw tears, beyond the smile, which automatically crossed her face just speaking of her son.
I don’t expect to ever see her son. Actually, if I did, I wouldn’t even know him. Therefore, in an effort to grant a sweet elderly lady’s heartfelt request, I am writing this story to tell everyone who has loved ones in long-term care facilities that your mother, father, aunt or uncle misses you very much. They would like for you to come and visit them. Even though you may not be able to take them home with you, you can go to their 5)meager home for a brief visit. Your presence would 6)make their day.
And don’t forget—your family member loves you with all of his or her heart. And I am certain, just like this lady, they want you to know just how much.
通过我们的牧师，我和丈夫罗伊在一些教堂集会、宴会、改革运动以及布道会上发言并演唱。我们还会前往本州各地一些长期看护机构表演节目。所到之处，经常有人对我们说，我们的表演给他们带来了欢乐和一丝活力。我们俩很高兴有机会通过这种方式来发挥我们的才能。
有一次特殊的经历使我终身难忘。那天，我们来到一家疗养院表演我们其中的一个节目。罗伊唱歌，我和那些坐在轮椅上以及坐在助步车旁边的人们聊天。
当我凝视着人群时，我注意到有些人在打盹，有些人则在微笑。幸好大多数人在倾听，甚至还有人轻轻地用脚打拍子。活动结束后，所有人都返回了自己的房间，除了一位女士。
正当我们收起我们的随身物品时，她向我们走来，告诉我们说她非常喜爱我们的节目。我们互相拥抱，然后闲谈了一会儿。她谈到了她的儿子。接着，她说了一句简直让我心碎的话：
“如果你见到我儿子，你告诉他我想念他。好吗？”
“当然，我会的。”我回答说。我拥抱了她。短短的几秒钟里，我感受到了她正在经受的痛苦。
其实，我并不知道她的具体情况。可能就在那天早上，她的儿子来过这里。老人的时间感有时是紊乱的。我知道，当你足不出户以后，时间的流逝容易变得失去意义。
然而另一方面，那位儿子上一次来看望母亲或许已是许多个星期乃至许多个月以前的事了。太多人把自己所爱的人送到疗养院，并许诺说自己会经常去看望，但是一忙起工作，他们就很少过去了。
当我父亲住在一家疗养院里时，我一周数次前去看望他。我母亲几乎终日在他的房间里陪伴左右。这并不容易，特别是因为我家距离父亲所在的疗养院有65英里（约105公里）之远。但是我们坚信，父亲会知道我们爱他，即使他已经忘记了我们是谁。
我不得不在这位和蔼的女士面前转过脸去，擦去我的泪水。然后我再转过脸来。“我儿子很快就会过来接我。他会带我回家的。”她朗声说道。
我微笑着又拥抱了她一次，但愿她的话会成真。她缓缓地走开了。不过，她又转过身来看着我。
“当你见到我儿子时，你告诉他我爱他，好吗？”她问道。我注视着她的眼睛，发现她眼带泪光，虽然她一谈到儿子脸上便会自动地泛起笑容。
我并不指望能见到她的儿子。事实上，即使我见到了，我也不会认得他。因此，为了不负一位和蔼的老人那诚挚的要求，我写了这个故事。我想告诉把自己所爱的人送到了长期看护机构的每一个人：你的母亲、父亲、姑姨或者叔舅非常想念你。他们希望你前去看看他们。尽管你可能不能带他们一起回家，但是你可以去他们的简陋小窝小坐片刻。你的出现会让他们开怀一整天。
别忘了——你的家人全心全意地爱着你。而且，我敢肯定，就像那位女士一样，他们希望你知道他们有多么爱你！