Please pray for these senior citizens

What follows is part of a monthly newsletter for my neighbors. All of them are over 55 years old and are low income. Most of them are widows in their 70s and 80s. 

The Bible reflects a special concern that God has for widows. 

Note that the holidays can be very depressing for seniors. The following message is my way to bring some love and light to that emotionally difficult season. 

Many of my neighbors are homebound. This is an independent living facility. So there are some visiting nurses and visiting people to help with housework. 

Some that are not homebound get around with walkers on wheels or scooters. Plus there are some that drive cars and hold down jobs.

This is a racially mixed community. 

There are 64 units and 75 residents because a few are 2 bedrooms with husband and wife.  

Every apartment I have visited had a huge TV that was almost always on.

All the women I have talked to are grandmothers, many are great grandmothers and a few are great great grandmothers. 

Very few relatives visit on a consistent basis. 

Some attend church and many do not.

Can you imagine the sense of isolation?

I do not have the personality or energy to go around and make friends with lots of people.

But I do have the sensitivity to notice the needs around me. I have the motivation to request prayers. I have experienced amazing answers to prayers over the decades.

I talked with the apartment manager Darlene about the possibility of having a special event beyond our monthly potluck lunch to benefit the residents during the holiday season.   

There are Christian and secular celebrations that they could attend. Yet what I want is something that will help address the chronic loneliness, depression and other holiday-related issues.   

There is both the spike of depression that happens during the holidays and the ongoing depression of such isolation. 

Obviously, I am not an expert in this field. But God can answer your prayers. Then the Lord Jesus Christ can guide me to both general guidelines to include in future newsletters as well as some expert or church group that will come to our clubhouse to provide a seminar or workshop for free. 

The following materials will be printed and shared with my neighbors at the end of September. Note that I am requesting their inputs about recommended holiday options and volunteer options. Also on October 9th we will take up a collection of items to be donated to the thrift store in Ennis that benefits First Look Pregnancy Clinic. 

All of this can be done in the energy of the flesh and it would be OK. But as your prayers are joined with the prayers of others then God will surely bless and anoint in ways we cannot predict.

It is my intention by inviting those far away that will never visit Ennis to participate with fellow members of the greater body of Christ in spiritually serving this small sector of our society that is often neglected. 

Typically senior citizens are nearly invisible in most churches and the secular society. We have feelings and memories that TV and medicine cannot cure. 

I request your best prayers as soon as you have read this message and again as the Holy Spirit prompts you. 

Shalom

John