Mildred

Last week I was in North Carolina on a quick trip to be in a dear friend's wedding. I had the chance to visit my grandfather, Avery, in the nursing home. While there we sat in on a musical session with a lady who my grandfather just loves. She plays very similarly to how my grandmother used to play....tickling the keys :).

I also got to meet a very sweet 90 year old woman named Mildred. She shared with me that she had six brothers and five sisters. She said she was alone now and that they all had "gone on to heaven" along with all of her nieces & nephews except for one living niece. She has buried everyone she loves including her husband and children. The unique thing about Mildred is that she had Jesus in her eyes. Joy, strength, love...not pain, resentment and anger. I was having a pretty difficult day and this sweet lady asked if she could pray for me!

I walked away from Mildred learning that suffering does not need to define you no matter what you are living through. She did not belittle her pain and acknowledged it has been real suffering but at the same time she clings to Jesus and has joy.

During the music time we also sang this very special hymn and I've been humming it ever since:

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
See on the portals He's waiting
and watching
Watching for you and for me

CHORUS:
Come home, come home
Ye who are weary, come home
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
Calling, oh sinner, come home