Little Nudges

By Liz Wiskowski

    Each week a little old lady came to church with a big smile on her face. When she saw me, she would open her arms wide for her weekly hug. With a chuckle, she always had something to complain about. It was either too hot or too cold. Or she was having trouble with her car or her lawn mower. It became our private joke, and with each hug, I would say, “what have we got to complain about today,” and we would both laugh. She was pure joy.

    Then I didn’t see her for two weeks and I asked a friend where she was. I was told that she was in a nursing home dying of cancer and it was happening very fast.

    Now, I couldn’t call this lady a close friend, I didn’t know anything about her personal life. I didn’t even know her last name! But there were little nudges inside of me. Do something!

    Finally, on Monday noon, I put down my work, went outside and picked her some flowers, and headed for the nursing home. I found her room and walked in. We had our hug and we talked--Nothing phony about getting better and going home. We talked about dying. She found comfort in knowing she had been anointed. We talked about what joy it would be to see Jesus.

    Then she became agitated and said she had forgotten how to pray. She said she couldn’t even remember the “Our Father.” I think all of the morphine she was receiving for her pain affected her memory.

    I asked, “Can you say Jesus?” She said “Jesus.” “Can you say Mary?” She said “Mary.” “Can you say Joseph?” She said “Joseph.” Now lets put them together! Jesus, Mary and Joseph. We repeated this about six times. I told her, you are praying. Offer to God each beat of your heart, each breath you take, and say “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” and you are praying. I received her old smile.

    As I left her room, I looked back. Her eyes were closed. Her lips were moving--Jesus, Mary, Joseph. She looked at peace.

    How often do we listen to these little nudges from God? He wants to work through us. He wants us to spread our faith and do His work. Please listen.