Tricia had asked if we were available to join her and a few other HXUCA members for a visit to the Manor Lakes Aged Care Home. Tricia and Paul (our pastor) visit the residents every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month and the residents are regarded as part of the HXUCA family.
The plan today was to involve the Sunday School kids since it's the school hols. Tricia thought we'd have a sing-along for the residents, with the kids singing and playing instruments. My job was to to play the hymns, something I am happy to do; you can never get enough of hymns.
Beth had practised her song: The Frenchfry Bandit, a Yamaha piece. She would sing and I would accompany her on the keyboard. But when the moment came, she was really nervous. "Oh, she's shy," I heard one or two of the old ladies remark kindly.
The Hannemann girls sang Here I Am To Worship and For All You've Done. Harrison played the guitar. Georgia played a classical piece on her violin. Tricia and Betty led the residents in their favourite hymns. We finished by visiting a lady called Teddy, who's 91 and unable to walk on her own. She was sitting ramrod straight in the chair next to her bed, a breathing tube attached to her nose.
You never saw anyone with such dignity, poise and appreciation.
"Thank you very much. That was lovely," she said simply when the kids finished their rendition of Tiny Kangaroo. It's one of those Aussie bush songs that are very popular among children. Beth seemed to know all about it, and I remember: gosh, she's more Aussie than anyone in our family.
I got a special treat of my own when the kids sang The Tree Song. It's been 25 years since I've heard it, and I don't even know its title. But when the kids sang -
I've got roots going down to the water
I've got leaves going up to the sunshine
I'm becoming what the Lord of Trees has meant me to be
A strong young tree
I joined in right away. The lyrics came back to me as if I'd never forgotten them, and I suppose in a sense that is the case. They'd just been hiding in my subconscious.
I left the home with a great sense of joy and goodwill. Mandy and I agreed that the place is really nice. If not for the hospital ward-like wings, it's almost like someone's home rather than a place elderly people go to be cared for and where they'll eventually die.
If I ever have to live in an aged care home, I'd love it to be a place like the one we visited today.
The cluster of old ladies who came to our sing-along were wonderful. They had this look of peace and radiated contentment and grace. They spoke politely to one another and showed concern for a blind fellow resident when she arrived late at the sing-along, getting up to make way for her.
When you spend time with people who seem to have so little and yet seem so at peace with themselves, you can't help feeling joyful and alive and just grateful for what you have.
So thank you Lord, for the gift of giving and receiving that my children and I enjoyed today. And thank you for lifting my anxiety about the drive and helping me get to and from Manor Lakes safely.
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