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Death, Where is Your Sting?

When I first started at Bickford 1 1/2 yrs. ago, I was terrified of death. Not so much the act of dying, but the grief and sadness. I am an extremely emotional person and was so afraid that I would let my personal feelings get in the way of truly taking care of a resident and/or their family. Sadly, we have lost quite a few residents in the time I've been here. Yet, the Lord has been so gracious to me in guiding me at the beds of these beautiful residents. Sometimes I wish I had gotten to know what their stories were, who they were, what the circumstances in their lives were....but, as I sat by the bed of yet another resident this past Thursday, I realized that I got to be there in a most important time in their life as well....ushering them in the arms of our Savior. We are all brought into people's lives for different moments and my time at Bickford is to love them at the end of their days. I am so blessed by these amazing people and honored to be a part of their lives. Another humbling part is being able to minister with the families. Several times recently, I have seen the pain on the face of a daughter and asked if it would be alright if I gave them a hug. They crumple in my arms. I can only hope that at those moments they are feeling the arms of our Savior comforting them at that moment. I am just His vessel and have grown to love that "job" more and more!

1 Corinthians 15:54-58
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?  The sting of death is sin, and he power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.









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