GEORGE
Many times
when people come into our
lives, even "before
they arrive"...God
prepares us.
While
working in the nursing
home, we were expecting a
new admission. The
facility was responsible
for properly marking all
personal items and
clothing with a residents
name. On this particualar
day, I assumed that
responsibility. The new
admits name was
"George". As I
sat down and began
marking
"Georges'"
first and last name on
his clothing, I suddenly
and quite unexpectedly
found myself praying for
him. I prayed that God
would touch his life,
give him peace...but most
of all....I claimed his
soul for the kingdom of
heaven.
I began to
feel "attached"
to this man as I
continued to pray for
him, even sight unseen.
Prior to
George arriving, I
learned that his
immediate family had
little tolerance for him.
They delivered his
belongings in oversized
green trashbags and brown
paper sacks. They felt as
tho he were a outcast and
made it known that once
he was transferred to our
facility, he would pretty
much be on his own. It
was obvious that his
family was unsupportive
of him in any way shape
or form.
George was
a tall, thin man with no
teeth who practically
swam in his oversized
clothes. He would take
his right hand and grasp
at the waist of the pants
just to hold them up.
(Even tho his belt was on
the last notch.) And when
he smiled, his toothless
grin would reach from one
side of his face to the
other.
George and
I gradually developed a
very close friendship.
George, ....as all people
do....simply wanted
someone to talk to, and
to acknowledge him...and
to be treated like
everyone else.
Everyday,
throughout the day,
George would come and
visit me in my office. I
would ask him about his
past, his likes, dislikes
and generally all
questions that people
simply get asked! He was
perceived by others to be
"a homeless,
indigent with little
intellengence". When
if fact...He wasnt any of
those things at all.
I will
never forget the first
time I asked George if he
would like a cup of
coffee. His face stared
at me in almost
disbelief. He had been
treated so badly by
others that he was not
used to someone that
simply "wanted"
to do something for him.
Once I detected how much
he had been neglected, I
began to help him more
and more. It made me
angry that people had
mistreated him so badly
because he had been
homeless. The absence of
the respect he deserved
was so obvious!
I
eventually learned so
much about George. Like
his secret love Victoria,
the lady he loved...And
his brilliant mind that
no one seemed to know
about...but me. One day
while typing, I got stuck
on the spelling of a
word....and asked George,
who just happened to be
sitting there with me.
Without hesitation he
gave me the appropriate
spelling. George and I
would have conversations
about investments and we
would talk about business
matters and different
company formations.
One
Christmas, George gave me
a handmade Christmas
card, which I still have
to this day. He drew a
picture of a nativity
scene with a pen. I will
treasure it forever.
George
passed away about 5
months ago. He fell and
broke his hip and never
recovered.
I will
never forget George. One
day, I will see his face
again. I pray that he
knows just how much his
life meant to me.
Simply,
...........Kris