I recently came across this post suggesting that pastors should encourage stay at home mums to visit elderly widows in their congregation. I found it encouraging. Over the last five years (since we moved to this part of Sydney) I have had the chance to visit Dave's elderly great-aunt, who is a widow and lives locally. There are times when my visits have become quite sporadic and I've felt tempted to stop altogether and tell myself that 'someone else can do it'. However, time and time again, I've been convicted that this is something that is very, very compatible with the stage of life I'm in at the moment. So I found myself agreeing with him.
His reasons why stay at home mums are (generally speaking) in such a good position to visit widows include:
- availability - being at home during the day, when it works best to visit the elderly;
- the fact that kids bless older people - I'm always quite moved by the way the nursing home residents react to my children when I visit Dave's aunt;
- it can be an opportunity for a younger woman to care for an older woman;
- it can be an opportunity for an older woman to instruct and encourage a younger one. (I think the way this happens will depend on the elderly woman - who she is, what her health is like, etc... - but I have found this to be true).
I would also add that I think going into an environment (particularly a nursing home) where there are elderly people is sobering and is good for learning wisdom. It makes the possibility of death feel more real. I also think that the kids have a lot to learn from visiting an older person. They can learn about the past (Dave's aunt was in China as a missionary at the time of the Communist revolution, and in her more cogent days, she shared some amazing stories with them!); they can learn about their family; they can learn how to be polite and respectful to a person who has lived a lot longer than them.
I'd really like to think of a way of doing this more, and visiting more people, and even trying to do it in a more systematic way. I heard of a mothers' group visiting a local nursing home with their young babies a few years ago which I thought was a great idea at the time. Does anyone have any other ideas for ways young mums can encourage each other to care for the widows in our community?
5 comments:
You've just reminded me that I need to get out and visit my old neighbour again! Thanks!
There's a nursing home a couple of blocks from us and I've often thought that visiting would be a good idea but never actioned it. Thanks for the prod :)
Before my children went to school, we joined a group of people from church who would go and sing hymns in a dementia unit. My children just sat there most of the time, but from comments they have made since it made a big impression and they have come away with some sense of compassion. They also got to learn all the old fashioned hymns!
Anna
Most Nursing homes have a volunteer program. Call them up and ask if you can become part of the team. You might have to do an induction or orientation so you are made a bit more aware of their responsibilities towards you and yours towards the residents.
This might be a good starting point.
Good ideas Lauren and Anna. Since reading this article, I've been chatting with a guy from our church who already volunteers at our local nursing home. He is keen to start coordinating groups of people from church to visit together, so I'm thinking I might like to get involved in that way.
I love to singing idea! Not sure I'm brave enough yet - but it would be lovely to somehow get our kids in there singing too.
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