God’s Helper

You meet some interesting people in assisted living facilities.  Residents whose lives have been interrupted by some type of health crisis or general decline, as well as workers who encourage and care in the most dedicated of ways.  Dorothy was one of the former.  She would float through like a little angel about twice a day, her sole purpose seemingly to encourage my mother-in-law, Wanda.   Dorothy knew her Bible. She would impart huge theological truths in a rather casual manner, telling my mother-in-law as she patted her hand, “We have to trust in the Lord; He’s right there with us EVERY MINUTE.”  Dorothy soon told us her “spiritual birthday,” which made her 27, she said with a girlish laugh. 

One day during her visit, Wanda asked Dorothy, “Do you ever think about Heaven?”

“Oh, all the time!” said Dorothy emphatically.

“Do you ever think about being with your husband in Heaven?” asked my mother-in-law, who had expressed concern over whether we will know our loved ones in Heaven, ever since the passing of her husband two years prior.

Dorothy wisely answered, “Well, we will know our husbands as our brothers.  We will know Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul – all of them will be our brothers!” Dorothy knew the scripture that says we won’t be “married” in Heaven, and that seemed to satisfy Wanda.  Even though this was something we had told her before, coming from Dorothy, it just seemed to be okay, even though the thought of not being Bob’s wife in the afterlife had not set well with her before. 

Another time Dorothy was talking about one of the other residents, and how he needed to know the Lord.  “He’s nice,” she said, “but nice won’t get you into Heaven. Only the blood, only the blood,” she said, lowering her voice for emphasis.

 “Dorothy sure has her theology right, and she loves God,” I said to Mark, as Dorothy left us to take her encouragement to another resident.

“She’s one of His helpers,” said Mark.  I truly think she was.

I have thought about Dorothy since that time, and how she brought light into the room.  I want to be more like her, more willing to share and speak the truth, more willing to encourage, more willing to get involved where people have needs.  Wherever we are, whether we are at the beginning, the middle, or the end of life’s road, may we be found faithful, willing, and ready to be God’s helpers.