He Quieted Down and Seemed to Concentrate When He Heard the Bible
Walking into the patient's room, I wasn't sure what to expect. I could hear him before I saw him.
He was an aged man masked up, full-cover, with a breathing apparatus, and he was moaning and groaning. My initial 10-15 second assessment of the situation concluded: I've never had to try and communicate with someone like this. With his mouth covered, no way can he talk with me.
I said, Hello. I paused.
The moans kept coming.
Then I started to boot up the Bible memory on my 52-year old hard drive. I tried the best I could. I wanted the eye contact with him; therefore, I didn't want to be looking down into my Psalms and New Testament to read.
I quoted Psalm 23, John 3:17, John 11:25-27; and 1 John 4:10, 19. I quoted slowly. He immediately quieted down. He definitely was making eye contact with me.
The visit was all of 8-10 minutes, and I prayed for him. Was I comfortable at that moment? No way. But I sensed the words of Scripture had helped him.
I left the room, and then a short time later, I heard him back at his moaning, and that was gut-wrenching.
Hospital care-givers and the nursing staff likely get used to such patients and their needs. It's something not at all easy to handle.
G. Mark Sumpter
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