Ninety on the Nose

A church member was on the phone. I asked how she was doing. “I’m doing fine. I’m watching out for myself so I can watch out for my neighbors too. 

“You know I’m ninety years old,” she said, “as in ninety-on-the nose since my birthday is later this year. And I’ve got a lot of old folks in my apartment building who aren’t eating the way they need to, so I’m cooking a lot of soup these days and setting it outside their doors. It reminds me of our soup dinners at church, but of course we can’t be near each other and don’t get to meet new folk.”

Are they letting visitors in your building? “Oh no. It is very, very  discouraged. My son telephoned and wanted to come over, and I told him, ‘Absolutely not! We’ve got people here who can’t afford to get sick.’

“He said he just wanted to see me and give me a hug. But I told him he would just have to wait. And do you know what? He came over anyway! He is stubborn, that one, and no matter what people say, I’m sure he got it from his dad and not from me. Sometimes I think my friends just like to needle me.

“He came and I made him stay in his car as we talked to each other across the parking lot. ‘I just needed to see you with my own eyes,’ he told me and I said that’s fine, we just can’t hug until this is all over.” 

And that is the story of how one “ninety-on-the-nose” person lives the faith in times like these. May we each be blessed in our faith and prayers today. In your prayers, please keep in prayer the first responders and the health care people caring for the sick.
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–Pastor Tom