An intruder

Tonight I feel so terribly inept, inadequate, unable, useless. I feel as tho I've stuck my foot in my mouth and really don't know if I should apologize or not. Perhaps it's just my perception... or maybe it's real. Here's what happened.

My friend Shirley is in the hospital. She has cancer and is very, very sick. Because of her illness, she has not been able to come to church for quite some time. Shirley has been active in the church, serving many roles, ever since I have been there. She would say her primary spiritual gift is teacher. She was one of the first women called as an elder in the congregation and for that, we honored her with Elder Emeritus status today.

Since Shirley couldn't come to church, we came to her. Shirley and her family were there. The elders and the pastor were there. The nurses kept bringing us folding chairs so that we could get more people into the room. We probably had fifteen of us there. I hope that our presence was accepted in the spirit in which we intended. I am certain that God was present with us in that hospital room.

But, somehow I felt as tho we were intruding upon a very private, intimate family time. I left the room as soon as possible, even tho I would have loved to visit with her and the family more.
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O God........ show me the best way to be supportive to my friend Shirley. Be with her and guide her along this journey. Give her hope for tomorrow and let her rest in your strength. My prayer for her family is the same, as her husband, daughters and son face the challenge of learning how to care for her. She loves you God. Be with her.
Love, Nancy

And God says, "Be still......... and know that I am God."