Twist of Faith

With a heavy heart, I went to visit a saint from our church late this afternoon when I heard she had had a stroke and was in the hospital.  She's a person who worked tirelessly in our clothes closet giving a bit of dignity (and style) to our local community.  Visiting in her nursing home is always an uplifting experience. Today was no different.  I was told her son had left just minutes before I arrived and he must have selected the channel she was watching/listening to. As I sat beside her for a while, we listened to beautiful music (that I wish I could link to right now) that was playing through the television. I held her hand. I asked her simple questions thinking that her ability to communicate was diminished. I was wrong.

After a few songs, I told her wanted to say a prayer for her.  As I prayed, her tear-filled eyes looked directly into mine.  My eyes and cheeks filled to overflowing. And God became flesh and was dwelling among us. Not in me. Not in her. But, in us.

She had tried to say several things during our visit, but I couldn't make out what she saying. Her speech was slurred and unintelligible until I concluded the prayer.  With tear-puddles in her eyes, she said, "thank you." I said, "I love you." She said, "I love you too."

And God made a home among us.