Visting With the Suffering

I was recently asked to visit a man in a local convalescent hospital as a staff pastor. The request came from a younger man who had and continues to have weekly visits to this confined man.

I discovered the man has been in the facility for six years or longer due to a stroke that has him limited in speech and movement. He is without speech and ability to move. My first visit I introduced myself and spent a few moments in solo conversation with some eye movement acknowledgements. I prayed with him and did my best to bring encouragement to him and left feeling heavy hearted for this incapacitated man. The stroke had damaged his physical body heavily.

By my next visit I learned to arrive after a certain time when his wife would be at his side to be an intermediary. She had a very bubbly personality in spite of the situation. She was using a walker herself but no mention was made of her personal health. She spoke well of the facility staff and gave me more detailed information about her husband who had suffered this stroke incapacitating him.

He was a retired Navy chief, served our nation with an impeccable record. It was obvious she was very proud of his military service. He had followed his service with being a civilian employee for the Navy still served in the Fleet Reserve. The Mrs. shared many things about family and faith. Theirs was a long term marriage, I believe she told me near 60 years. She always had a positive outlook in our conversation. I also note that she had gone through medical issues herself, among them was a diagnosis of Lupus. But her focus always returned to God and the life they had lived together.

They don’t let the disability stop the family from assisting other veterans. They provide several items each year to these service members who need a loving touch at a veterans housing facility nearby. On my last visit I saluted this faithful serving warrior and thanked him for his service after praying. He appeared to be touched by this simple gesture. Acknowledgment is in the form of a slight head nod or eye movement. She affirmed his pleasure of such action. His spirit still lives in spite of what a stroke has taken.

I do not pretend to understand why good people suffer, but I can pray that God will speak to their souls and assure them of His love and peace. The only thing I can conclude is that God is sovereign and knows what He is doing. We must surrender to His will and way.

Each time I leave his bedside, I depart with encouragement and words of gratitude for taking time to come by for a visit and prayer from his faithful wife.