I am pleased once again to present the inspiring writing of my dear sister in Christ Edna Walls, in the form of the lovely new poem reproduced here with her gracious permission. To read her excellent article "The Value of Being a Widow," please click here. 
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Who Is This Jesus Whose Birth We Celebrate?

He is the unique Person of the universe.
One of a kind,
Conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of a virgin, His throne left behind.
 
His birthplace a stall, animals near,
Located by the eastern star.
The magi found Him in Bethlehem,
bearing gifts from afar.
 
King Herod was troubled by Jesus’ birth.
He sought to kill this Babe in the manger.
But an angel warned Joseph to depart.
To Egypt they went, out of danger.
 
Herod died after several years.
Again the angel appeard in a dream.
“It is safe, take the Child to Israel”
For He shall be called a Nazarene.
 
The Boy grew strong. His Wisdom increased.
In the carpenter shop He worked.
At the age of 12 to the temple He went.
“My Father’s business I cannot shirk.”
 
At age of 30 He was baptized by John.
God proclaimed Him “His beloved Son.”
The wilderness temptation lasted 40 days.
He passed the test – His ministry begun.
 
For three years He walked the land,
Teaching, healing, doing miracles and more.
No one had witnessed these wondrous deeds,
No one had ever done them before.
 
Many people did repent.
But enemies were also made.
They did not believe the Son of God.
Thirty pieces of silver to Judas was paid.
 
A trial was held in Pilate’s court,
A mockery of justice took place.
“Crucify Him” was the cry.
The truth of Messiah could not be faced.
 
To the cross He went for you and me,
This sinless man, so pure,
So sinners could be redeemed.
Shame, suffering, death He did endure.
 
The grave could not hold Him.
Chains of death He snapped.
He now sits in Heaven
Interceding on our behalf.
 
But that isn’t the end.
Some day He will return.
As the King He was meant to be.
What a Redeemer, what a Friend,
This man of Galilee.
 
Now you’ve heard the story of Jesus.
A choice you need to make.
You can believe and live with Him
Or separation from all will be your fate.
 
He did all that was required of Him.
Now you must do your part.
Repent, confess, believe, rejoice,
Thank Him with all your heart.
 
Make this your merriest Christmas.
Jesus wants you in His flock.
This gift of salvation is free.
Plus, King Jesus will be your rock!
 
To those who have trusted Christ
And are living a life with Him,
Share this story of redemption
With the many who are lost in sin.
 
-- Edna Walls, Christmas 2018

Time for an annual reminder:

If you're searching for a present for a friend or loved one who lives in a nursing home, it wouldn't be surprising to learn that the perfect gift is not leaping instantly to mind. It can in fact be a real challenge. But as a veteran of nursing-home buying, I have a few suggestions for you. 

Let's start with a few don'ts:

• It should be obvious, but apparently it is not: Don't bring in anything that the recipient can't eat -- no sugary treats for those with diabetes, no nuts or popcorn for those with diverticulitis. If you have any doubts, do your research and check with a nurse.


• Be sensible: don't give the modern equivalent of a boom box to someone with a roommate -- unless it's accompanied by earphones and instructions for using them.


• Don't give conventional books to someone with failing vision, or books on tape to someone with no means of listening to them. 


• Don't give a gift that could be a fire hazard. That means none of those cute little packages of tea, mug and plug-in cup heater. No hot plates. Nothing that plugs in and heats up.


• Don't give an appliance if it will only cause frustration. A prime problem: phones with built-in answering machines. Younger residents may really appreciate them, but I promise you that they can reduce many old folk to tears in very short order.

There are far better choices available to those who know their residents fairly well. For instance:

• This is the generation that wrote letters, and many still do. Books of pretty stamps are always welcome, as are boxes of stationery or a selection of cards for any occasion -- Get Well, Happy Birthday, Thank You and Thinking of You are perfect.


• Look for wonderful new books or old favorites for a reader, large-print if necessary; I recently discovered a resident with a shared passion for Kathleen Thompson Norris, the highest-paid woman novelist of the early 20th century; she'll be ultra-easy to buy for, since Norris wrote dozens of books and one of the advantages to old age is being hazy about stories read decades ago. 


• Many will welcome reading accessories such as clip-on night lights (with a supply of batteries) or magnifying sheets or glasses.


• If the nursing staff okays it, candy and cookies are always a big hit.  


• How about a jigsaw puzzle, if there's a place to assemble it? And how about personalizing it? I'm currently searching for one featuring turtles for a resident who loves both puzzles and turtles -- if I can find the right one, I think she'll be delighted.

 

• If the home has a beauty shop, you could pay for a shampoo, cut and set for a resident who's low on funds.


• An easy-to-care-for plant may be just the ticket, especially for someone who once enjoyed gardening. Surprisingly, an orchid can be great; it may not live forever, but some of the most common types will bloom for a long time and need only an ice cube a week for moisture. And what an exotic gift it makes!


• For the right resident and the right room, a stuffed toy can turn into a beloved "companion." And there are some very cool, battery-operated cats and dogs available today; but bring extra batteries and make sure there'll be someone available to change them.


• Another nifty gift is a pair of earphones for TV listening. The resident's roommate will appreciate them, and that can help keep the peace for everyone concerned.


• For the man or woman who has everything, you might want to consider making a donation in his or her name to a cause that he or she loves -- his or her church, or a local humane society, or the Rescue Mission or Salvation Army. 

But the best gift at all for someone living in a nursing home is the gift of time. Lavish it on him or her not only during the Christmas season, but every month of the year!

Back in December of 2005, I was sitting in on a sing-along of some sort at Care-age of Brookfield when I suddenly heard a beautiful tenor voice rising above the others. I traced the voice to an 80-something man seated in a wheelchair, sporting a neatly pressed light blue shirt and navy slacks, a fringe of white hair, wire-rimmed glasses, and a big smile. He was a perfect candidate for our next Christian Music Hour, so I checked the name tag on his wheelchair, already planning how I would persuade him to join us on Sunday morning.
 
I nearly fell over when I saw his name. HIPAA privacy laws prevent me from sharing that name with you, dear reader, so let’s just call him John. But I will tell you this: When I launched my writing career at a little Milwaukee PR agency in the mid-1970s, this very John had been a senior VP for our largest client – an exceptionally kind man who was greatly respected, admired and even loved by the low-level staffers I worked with.  
 
After the sing-along was over, I introduced myself, outlining my connection with his long-ago employer. It was no surprise that he didn’t remember me. But he was mighty pleased to make my acquaintance that day, and to make plans for attending the Christmas edition of the Christian Music Hour the following Sunday.
 
John and I chatted quite a while that day. I discovered that he was a life-long church-goer who had never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. He said he was pinning his heavenly hopes on the fact that he’d been baptized as an infant, and that he was a deacon in his church. He was quite surprised to learn that, according to the Bible, we are saved for all eternity not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did on the cross. Surprised, and the more he thought about it, delighted, because it simply made sense to him. 
 
That Sunday, our Christian Music Hour repertoire consisted of traditional Christmas carols, with one notable exception: I’d included a beautiful '90s song called "A Strange Way To Save the World." The residents of that era usually didn’t like contemporary songs, but this one was pretty enough to earn smiles from a number of the participants, including my new friend John. He said that enjoyed the entire hour immensely, in fact, and kept his song book so he could sing his favorites again in the privacy of his room.
 
John quickly became my favorite resident. Having been introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ, he was hungry to learn more about the Bible. I brought him a copy of the first version I’d read cover to cover – the Life Application Study Bible in the easy-to-read New Living Translation – and found him immersed in it every time I visited, and eager to talk about what he’d been discovering.
 
In early February, his family moved John into an assisted-living facility a half-hour from my home. I decided to steal a few more hours each week from my freelance writing business in order to visit him there, and our fellowship continued for several more weeks.  
 
But then one Wednesday afternoon, I received a call from his daughter. John had died unexpectedly of a massive stroke that morning, she said, so I needn’t make the trip to visit him that week.
 
I was sad to lose my friend, of course, but rejoiced that John had repented and trusted in Jesus Christ; I would be seeing him again one happy day. In the meantime, I attended his funeral, held in the church where he’d been a deacon for so many years, but had never heard the gospel preached.
 
Apparently nothing had changed. Sandwiched between by-the-book opening and closing prayers, the service was dedicated to what a fine, upstanding man John had been, how well he’d taken care of his family, what a great success he’d been as a businessman and friend to all. Not a word about the Jesus he’d come to know and love in recent weeks. Not a word about the everlasting life he was already enjoying.
 
But in spite of the thoroughly secular service, John had managed to leave a clear message behind. There, on the back of the funeral bulletin, were some unexpected words:
 
"This is a song that John heard recently and loved. He asked us to share it with you at his funeral." 

What followed were the lyrics to "A Strange Way To Save the World." You'll find them in this video, if you'd care to find out why John was so moved by them. (If you’re reading this via email, please click on the headline above to be taken to the page with the audio link.)​​

Our weekly nursing-home Bible Discussion has settled into a format that our regular attendees seem to appreciate. We spend the first half hour on various articles and essays that would be of keen interest to any believer—articles and essays on topics from creation science to the growing global persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ. And then we devote the second half hour to readings directly from the Bible, or from a well-vetted book on a compelling biblical topic.
 
This year, the late Phillip Keller’s peerless book A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm took us from late spring through early autumn, warming our hearts and taking us deep into the extraordinary ways the Good Shepherd cares for His flock. The 23rd Psalm may be only six verses. But thanks to shepherd Keller’s charming explanations of each one, our group has found this psalm to be a wonderful source of divinely inspired comfort, support and joy to sustain us through virtually any trial.   
 
We are now working our way through the highlights of Randy Alcorn’s riveting book Heaven. At over 500 pages, it’s a truly comprehensive analysis of what the Bible says about the believer’s ultimate destination, as well as what various theologians have added to the discourse over the years. It seems that many of us have some major misconceptions about eternity; in Heaven, Alcorn addresses them one by one, providing a biblically accurate picture of the “happily ever after” awaiting every born-again Christian.
 
How about you?
 
If you have a heart for the elderly, a love for the word of God, and a little time to spare, I hope you’ll consider conducting a Bible Discussion of your own at a nearby nursing home or assisted-living facility. Simply contact the Activities Director or Administrator to introduce yourself and make your pitch. If you’re turned down by the first one, keep trying; the Lord will open just the right door for you.
 
If I can be of any encouragement, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’d be happy to share my week-by-week outlines with you, if you need some help getting started.
 
Don’t wait – there are undoubtedly some elderly folks in your area who are hungering and thirsting for someone like you to share the word of God with them!