Compassion: realizing they still have a song in their hearts!

Compassion

I still have a song in my heart! This is what my dad told me after we left his cardiologist, who had just recommended surgical implantation of a defibrillator. Apparently my dad, who had just celebrated his 80th birthday, had a weakened heart muscle. The doctor admitted that he didn’t recommend surgery to everyone my dad’s age. However, having gotten to know my dad over the previous few months, his exact words were my dad still had “a lot to live and a lot to give.” In that moment, I recognized the doctor’s compassion. How true his statement was and still is. Thank the good Lord, dad’s surgery went well and he is doing much better than before. The song in his heart remains. He loves music and is singing and humming every chance he gets. What a blessing!

My dad’s sentiment came back to mind recently while I was volunteering at an assisted living facility in my neighborhood. I had been assigned to the “activity” room and was told I would help with transporting residents from their living quarters to the activity room. Once there I would assist with the activities of the day. It turns out God had a different plan and my desire to volunteer coincided with His plan.

You see, I initially signed up to volunteer because I wanted to visit with residents who were lonely. In my mind I wanted to be a companion to those who very rarely got visitors – so when I got my assignment, I went with the flow, but it wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. Imagine my pleasant surprise when the supervisor of the activity room didn’t have “much” for me to do but walk with the residents for exercise and chat with them as I walked. THAT was more along the lines of what I had in mind.

My first day of volunteering was tough. I guess they weren’t used to having their routine disrupted for a walk. Some of them were apprehensive and quite curt with me. Others were more than willing to oblige and get a change of scenery. As the weeks wore on, I got to know many of them and it was encouraging to see the change in their demeanor and willingness to walk.

Here’s how it goes: I start my day at the facility at 10am. When I get in many of them, well over 90 years old, are sitting in a daze or asleep. If you’re the type that judges a book by its cover, you’d probably think that, unlike my dad, they no longer have a song in their heart, that this is no quality of life for these seniors. However, I would beg to differ. Here’s why: two weeks before Christmas, I walked into that place in a great mood – excited and grateful to be there to bring a smile to at least one person’s face. After everyone had gone for a walk, just as I was about to leave, something in my soul told me to stick around, so I did.

As one of the activity directors started playing the guitar and singing, I decided I wanted to dance. Faces lit up, smiles cracked and I knew I had touched a nerve. I went one step further – I asked if anyone wanted to dance. What do you think happened? 40% of the seniors in attendance got up to dance with me. The spirit in the room was stirring. Even Valentine, who we all call Grandma, got up to dance. She just celebrated her 101st birthday.

I left the facility that day with a smile from ear to ear. To see how these residents have progressed from not wanting to walk or be bothered, to looking forward to seeing me and being willing to DANCE! WOW! God is sooooooo good!

If ever there was a time in my life to apply the idiom “never judge a book by its cover” THAT was the time. We often see seniors, with limited mobility and having trouble with their memories. We THINK that they are oblivious to what’s going on around them but they are NOT! They want and need companionship, they want and still need love and attention. My senior friends’ dancing proved to me that they still have a song in their heart! Sometimes we can’t hear it but it’s there.