It all began with a thought….

Several years ago I was sitting in my living room, home alone with my small babies at the time when I began to think about how much of an unusual love I have for the elderly and widows. James 1:27 came to mind. In my hometown of Baton Rouge, LA I couldn’t help but let my mind wonder. I began to talk to God about why He gave me such a big heart and compassion for this population of people, but not the orphans. Don’t get me wrong, I love children and have been on multiple mission trips where we ministered to orphans. What I was wondering is why He gave me a heart for this specific verse, this specific age group and this specific need when it seems so unusual to have that desire. 
It seems as though so many of us can feel empathy for orphans and children being without parents, however in this moment of time in my life I felt that I was one of the only people I knew who really just had such a tremendous desire to serve and love on the lonely elderly population. All of a sudden as I was pondering about this scripture and had this thought “God why did you give me such a heart for the widow but not the orphans?” The Lord replied in the most powerful yet matter of fact way and said “THEIR ORPHANS TOO” In the moment my stomach dropped! I had never thought how the elderly do not have a set of parents to care for them on this earth, my mind was absolutely blown! I could have never thought of this by myself, only God could reveal something so profound yet so simple.
The New Testament, specifically the book of James was written in Greek originally. The Greek word for orphan is orphanos translating to one who is without a mother and father. Ok, now I get it. The scripture in James 1:27 is not just referring to children, it encompasses the whole picture of what an elderly person is. Typically a person in a nursing home is without parents and is widowed. And that is what began something inside of me that knew the Lord wanted to use me for the rest of my life to care and minister to this generation of people. That day is when it all began…