Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me. Matt: 25:40
Salem Village Nursing Home Paradise Park Assisted Living
Rosewood Care Center Lakewood Nursing Home
The story was told of a farmer who had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and posted the sign to a post at the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post he felt a tug on his overalls and looking back, his eyes met the eyes of a little boy. “Mister” he said, “I want to buy one of your puppies”. “Well”, said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, “these puppies come from fine parents and cost a lot of money”.
The boy dropped his head for a moment, then reaching deep into his pocket; he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. “I’ve got thirty-nine cents”. Is that enough to take a look?? “Sure” said the farmer, and with that he let out a whistle. “Here, Dolly!” He called, and out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.
The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence, his eyes danced with delight as the dogs made their way to the fence. But the little boy noticed something else still inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball of fur appeared this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the other puppies doing its best to catch up.“I want that one”, the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy, he will never be able to run and play with you like these other puppies would”. With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling one leg of his trousers up. In doing so, he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.
Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands”. With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup, holding it carefully, he handed it to the little boy. “How much?” asked the little boy. “No charge”, answered the farmer, “There’s no charge for love”. The world is full of people who need someone who understands and who needs to know someone loves them. As the Lord uses each one of us in the Nursing Home Ministry, may God’s love shine through our lives that they may come to know that Jesus loves them unconditionally. We must love one another as Christ loves us and gave himself for each one of us individually. We are responsible for our efforts, not the outcome. The outcome is in God’s hand but we, as Christians, must make the effort to share God’s love with others.
We enjoyed a short month during the month of June, having two Sundays off. Rosewood Care Center has their own Father’s day special program so we enjoyed having Father’s day off. Then, as you are aware, June had five Sundays and we are free on the 5th Sunday each quarter. Now we are rested and ready to go for July and will be singing a lot of Patriotic songs. Come and join us and share your talent. Just e-mail me or give me a call so we can place you on the program. We are looking for young people who would play an instrument or sing.
We had great attendance in June at the other Nursing homes, with our record attendance once again, at Paradise Park. It’s a great way to serve the Lord, ministering to others. As we have said so many times, we go, in hopes that we will be a Blessing to others, but we always leave the homes feeling that the Blessings are ours. It is like kindness, it is difficult to give it away because it just keeps coming back.
PLEASE NOTE: All contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”. You can mail them to c/o Joyce Mancke, 509 Rhonda Dr., Lockport, IL. 6044l. If you are a member of First Baptist Church of Lockport, and would like to give through the church, just indicate on your offering envelope the amount you want to designate to the ministry. All other gifts should be made payable to Sonshine Outreach Ministries. Your gifts are tax deductible and you will receive an end of the year statement.
Pass the Newsletter along to others or let us know if you know someone who would enjoy receiving it. Our list continues to grow and we are Thankful to God and Him Alone.You can also check out our “blog” at; http://www.sonshineoutreach.blogspot.com/EXERCISE DAILY, WALK WITH THE LORD.
Our schedule for July is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – July 6th, @ 2:30 p.m.
Salem Village, Joliet – July 13th @ 2:30 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Ctr. – Joliet - July 20th @ 2:00 p.m
Paradise Park, New Lenox – July 27th @ 2:00 p.m.
Please come and join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke jmancke@sbcglobal.net. 815-351-7659
