We have been enjoying getting to know some elderly women (and a few men) at a nearby assisted living facility with a homeschool group called Grandparents Club. Twice a month, the kids and I meet other moms and kids at Sunrise, to sing and do crafts with the residents there. It has been a truly educational and emotionally-charged experience as we've gotten to know a former geologist/author, dog breeder, housewife, farm girl, and many more colorful and treasured characters. Yesterday, we started the day full of anticipation as it was Grandparents Day again. We were not in charge of leading that day, but we had been asked to wear our name tags and bring empty toilet paper tubes for the unannounced craft. Dogwood Cottage was our destination where all of the residents have memory loss in common, so we knew this day would be more of a challenge.
I was a bit surprised as we walked in just a hair past the appointed time of 10 a.m. to find no other homeschool moms or kids at the residence; we had never been the first to arrive. The activities director immediately caught my eye and a quizzical expression flashed across her face. "We're with Grandparents Club," I tentatively offered. With that, her face lit up. "Grandparents Club! We're so glad you are here!" She asked how we planned to entertain the residents. I explained that someone would be coming to lead the residents in a craft and perhaps singing. We agreed that while we were waiting for the other members of Grandparents Club (especially the mom leading the activities), the dining room needed some rearranging in order to accommodate the craft activities.
While she and the staff tackled this task, as well as the slow and careful process of escorting each resident to the dining area, we began making connections with the seniors, while occasionally glancing toward the door to see if the others were arriving.
By 10:15, we had become downright nervous. About 14 seniors had been moved to the dining room and soon, a program of singing and crafts would be demanded of us, and all we had was four toilet paper tubes and no plan! The comedy of the situation was far from lost on us. I told the teenage friend we had brought along that since she was holding the toilet paper tubes, she would be responsible for "making magic" with them. She promptly tossed them into Butterfly's lap.
After making a few quick phone calls on my cell phone, I discovered that we had come on the wrong day. Perhaps that has already occurred to my readers, but since the activities director had so warmly and eagerly welcomed us, as if she expected us, it hadn't occurred to me. It was only later that I recalled that momentary quizzical look on her face as we first entered the facility.I dreaded breaking the news to her, but it had to be done. I approached her and asked if she had actually been expecting us that day. She replied that she hadn't but assumed someone forgot to tell her. I went on to explain that we had come on the wrong day and had not ourselves planned to lead any activities at all.
Without missing a beat, she exclaimed that this was not a problem at all. She had a closet full of crafts and that just our being there was an answer to a specific prayer. She went on to share that they were short on staff that day and, until we arrived, she didn't know how she was going to be able to engage all the residents that morning. "They love kids, they love being talked to, just your being here means so much!"
So she pulled out coloring pages and markers, and we all colored together. I strolled the halls holding a weathered hand in my own. I prevented a confused lady from eating a marker and then helped her color the page she had chosen. We were told that we were "wonderful" and "sweet" by one dear lady who also emphatically proclaimed, "I love you!" The kids rolled a ball across a table for 30 minutes or more with a woman who had once been an athlete. She could barely walk, but she wasn't about to let that ball fall from the table.
Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained in the way of righteousness.
Proverbs 16:31
Historian went to the piano and began playing every song he had ever memorized as he had not brought any music. I think he even improvised a few he hadn't memorized. Fortunately, we found a Christmas song book and he began playing pieces out of that. One woman who we had not been able to previously engage locked eyes with me as Historian began playing Silent Night, and we sang the words together.
Hugs and kisses, coloring and strolling, rolling and singing were all a part of this strange and wonderful day of Grandparents Club. We couldn't help but praise God as we reflected on our morning. God had used my mistake to answer a much needed prayer. We felt elated to be a blessing to such special, super-seasoned souls. In fact, we were the ones to truly receive the blessing.
Oh, and the toilet paper rolls never made it home with us. We don't know what happened to them. On this particular day, God didn't need those measly offerings to create a bounty of laughter, smiles and sparkling eyes. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
thank you!
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