Article written by: Myrtice Robinson
1 Corinthians 13:7-8, “Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
Covid 19 has caused a strange devastation to the mind, body, and spirit of all ages. Many elderly parents living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are lost for words and questions about what is happening outside of their place of dwelling. Their loved ones are wandering about what is happening to their elderly parents inside of these facilities where they cannot visit due to the pandemic. And, with technology being the only primary way of communicating, the elderly feels alone and abandoned; especially, the ones that are living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. “Among adults, the risk for severe illnesses from COVID-19 increase with age, with older adults at highest risk.” (https://www.cdc.gov/) Therefore, this risk comes with restrictions that have closed public visitation in senior living communities. This “shut down” can cause depression, anxiety, and loneliness to family members. Again, so many of the older adults and their loved ones do not understand what has happened to family visitation. So, it is especially important to keep the “Love” visible. Now is not the time to be silent nor selfish in showing love. Family love is what strengthen us, especially our elderly population. Do not leave them thinking you do not care or love them. Love speaks loudly and has a BIG picture that holds precious memories!
Let’s (family members and friends) be the ones to show love and not hate toward the elderly, family, and others. Love will clean the land. I believe that “Love” will wash away viruses, germs, sicknesses, and diseases. It is stated in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,” (American King James Version). This is an amazing performance of Love from God’s people (obedience) and from God (faithfulness).
I remember my parents loving me through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Many times, when I did not get my way, I felt unloved because I thought my way was right. My parents chose “their way” to be the “right punishment” for my misbehavior and of course, I wrestled with my love and hate for them. I noticed my mom’s face looked serious until the punishment ended and my dad’s face was mild with a quick smile. But never did I feel abused by either face. As I grew older in wisdom and understanding that every punishment was helpful toward my maturity and every punishment expressed a love for me to live a good life.
The love my parents revealed to me taught me how to love others even if someone tried to hurt me. I was taught to love my enemies and seek no revenge. I learned about this kind of love from my parents, Sunday school teachers and from my pastor. So, every Sunday “love” became more beautiful to me. I loved the way my mother loved dressing me up with a pretty dress, lace socks, and shiny patent shoes with my hair washed clean, hot combed pressure with ponytails. I would smile and sing loud during church praise and worship. I later learned that I was feeling God’s love for me and my excitement was showing gratitude back to Him. This made me feel happy and free and I took pleasure in connecting with God’s love.
Sadly, when I became a young adult leaving my parents’ home, I met the opposite of love. Its name was Hate, and in this circle, I met jealousy, envy, boastful, pride, revenge, profanity, name-calling, and all other unrighteousness. I had to learn how to live among hate and how practice love in its presence. This was challenging to me and it took away much joy but each night before falling to sleep, my meditation went back home with my parents and to the teachings in my Sunday school classes then I could feel the joy of love again! I learned love is a free will choice to have. Love is indispensable and is covered with a bright shiny armor.
Love teaches forgiveness, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. It gives you joy and peace. Love encourages one another, support one another, and build each other up. It makes you want to live forever! It makes you smile when your heart is full of tears of sadness.
Love loves me because my creator (God) is love. 1 John 4 states, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Love begins at home. Scripture tells us to, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22: 6) Parents should teach their children how to love God’s way at a young age then their children will learn how to love them back and how to love others.
When I was in college, my best friend introduced me to her mom and siblings. She was excited about me meeting them and expressed how much she loved them even though she said, “they could be “mean” sometimes.” Years passed and her mother was diagnosed with dementia. My friend quit her job to take care of her mother in her home. She provided “at home” care for her mother for ten years. She told me most of her mother’s days she could not remember a lot. She said, she told her mom that was okay because she could trust her to remember things for her. Therefore, she said that her mom would stare at her when she would talk. Also, the more progressive the disease matured, the more her mom needed help, my friend would pray for strength to assist her mother without feeling any regrets.
One of the most precious conversations I had with my friend about caring for her mother was about putting her mom to bed every night. She would give her mother a full bath and dress her in a clean night gown. She would help her into bed, kiss her and say, “Mom, I love you” and her mom would say every night back to her, “I know, love is what it does.” Her mom died knowing she was loved. What a beautiful relationship between mom and daughter. Yes, love makes it right. I remember Tina Turner singing a song, what’s love got to do with it?” I can answer that question with one word, “everything.”
Let’s not forget to help the needy and be sensitive to the needs and feeling of the elderly. During this shut down, you can participate in virtual conversations and activities with them. Ask the activity director at the elderly care facilities to help set up technology needed for your loved one to participate in having a virtual dinner, family game night with them, and virtual family meetings. Call them daily and tell them that you love them, find beautiful love cards related to “missing you” and mail them to your loved one, and above all pray for God to protect them and comfort them with the fruit of the Spirit: love, peace, joy, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, patience and self-control. These desires can help you and your loved ones get through this pandemic. “Do everything in love,” 1 Corinthians 16:14. “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3: 3-4) Love shows a pure heart and only the pure in heart shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
I conclude with 1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Again, love makes it right!