Small breakthroughs mean a lot.

One of the best encouraging time of my week is being at the rest home. Lori took her guitar this evening and we sang through the halls instead of having a service. Julie and Clay are still on vacation. Rick is sick. Our first stop was Alice's room. She has alway had a private room and is a very private person. She doesn't mingle with other people. When we first met her, she seemed to be a very proud woman, never wanting to talk about the Lord. But some months ago, we found out from one of the activity directors that Alice really did like for us to stop in and visit. She had very limited vision and used to love to read, but would not listen to books on tape. She asked us about our singing but she declined having us sing to her in her room. It was like she did not want to appear to need anything or anyone. In the past few weeks she has been less able to care for herself and limited to a lay back chair or her bed. Alice is in her ninties and is starting to lose her memory but she always calls us by our names or asks us to repeat our names. A few weeks ago one new nurse brought her into our service. I knew from experience with her she did not want to be in there and she kept repeating to be taken to her room. The new nurse thought she just needed to be out of her room and I did not over step her authority. I don't try to push God or the Bible or our singing on anyone who does not want it.

But tonight, Lori and I had a break through with her. She could tell Lori had an instrument with her and ask her about it. Then when we asked her about singing a song she said yes. Alice seemed to really enjoy it. We sang "Come unto Me" I prayed as we sang that some of the words would sink into her soul.

Before we left, one man stopped Lori in the hall. He wanted to play her guitar. He sat on his bed and was explaining to Lori how to tune her guitar. Then he started majorly turning the tuning keys like it was way out of tune. We had to smile. He used to be in a band called the "Brown Mountain Boys". He never did play anything, he just sat there trying to tune it. We laughed when we got to the car. Lori will have to do a major tuning before she plays again.

The small breakthrough with Alice may be God softening her heart. I remember Brother Homer Norwood talking about God tapping on a rock and causing little cracks until He is able to get through to somebody. I pray today that God is working with my children and grandchildren and Mother and brothers and sisters. May the Holy Spirit deal with each one until their needs are met.