Galatians 4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 What has happened to all your joy?

We were awakened at 5:30 am one morning to learn Gail (Roger's 62 year old sister with Downs Syndrome and Alzheimer’s) had another seizure and was taken to the hospital again. Her seizures were coming more often and the falls were now causing injury to her. This stay, like the previous ones, lasted several days before returning to her nursing care facility.

Gail doesn’t understand what is happening to her as she swings from babbling joy to outrageous anger. During this hospital stay the doctor decided to put her on an anti-seizure medication. Adjusting to the medication took several days so Gail couldn’t be left alone. More confused than ever, her Alzheimer's is progressing at “warp speed” compared to my mother who passed away October 2007 from Alzheimer's.

One particular day I felt I had reached my limits for giving and serving others' needs so I prayed and asked God for more strength to love others like Jesus did. I knew I was exhausted and would be tempted to resent caring for Gail. My “do for others” tank was running low after helping my father move, assisting my in-laws with life needs and preparing for holiday guests and family. While I was sitting quietly by Gail’s bed I decided to read my Bible (a good idea) so I read Galatians. She was getting restless again so I read some of the passages out loud to her.... Galatians 4:13 (see above).

As soon as I read the words “you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Gail, who had been quiet all day, gleefully squealed, "Welcome me!"

It was as if God were speaking through her to tell me to "welcome her" as if she were an angel or Jesus himself. What a direct answer to my prayers! It was a special moment from God. He was showing me “what happened to [my] joy.” It was what my heart and focus needed.

Since this life-size lesson, I find the privelege and joy of serving others by seeing them as "one of God's angels or Christ himself". Each day will have plenty of long lists of “have-to-dos” or “want-to-dos.” Each day will bring interruptions. Some interruptions call on us to set aside our important plans and needs to meet the needs of others. We can resist and resent the intrusion or learn to welcome the interruption as a heaven sent opportunity from God to serve angels or Christ himself. Let's rediscover our joy to “welcome him.”

Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Gail passed on to Heaven March 3, 2008. (picture of Gail Lamb by Christie Lamb December 2007)