(The following article is written by Dan Bonner who a Lifeline Pastoral Care Volunteer for Central Texas)
The frail, wisp of a man barely puckered his cover-sheet; however, you could tell he was a much loved giant in the eyes of the man and woman standing beside his bed. A son on his right side was holding one hand and a daughter on the other side was holding the other one. It was a beautiful sight, made even more wonderful by their warm, welcoming smiles.
After introducing myself, the son told the father in Spanish who I was. With a smile as big as the sun he spoke, immediately taking the conversation in an unusual direction. He wanted to know about me: children, grandchildren, my age. The similarities established a rapport that would last throughout his hospitalization.
As I entered his room for my second visit, Juan threw his arms in the air as though he was welcoming a long lost brother. His ear-to-ear smile was punctuated by sparkling eyes. Through his son we talked of physical health, the importance of family and God’s blessings. Before I left it was important to Juan to demonstrate his improvement, so he walked across the room for me to see.
My next two visits were without the son or daughter there. She works during the day; he works as a janitor at night. Both times, mercifully for me I thought, Juan was asleep. Each time I left a note for his children to read to him.
On my last visit he had been transferred to the Intermediate Care Unit. The son had gone to lunch. What could we do but smile at each other I asked myself. Then putting the palms of my hands together I brought them up to my chin and bowed my head. Juan nodded his head, reached for my hand and closed his eyes. I said, “Our Father in heaven.” “Gracias,” he quietly said. At each comma, each period, each pause in the prayer there was a quietly spoken “Gracias.”
Juan did not understand my words, but trusted me to use them well. It was our prayer. Though neither of us is bilingual, we knew the Father understands the language of our hearts lifted in prayer.
Author: Dan Bonner

