Facing One's Fears

So I have a really big fear of elderly people. I know that this sounds strange but I can't help it. It is not old people per say that bother me but the elderly. And yes there is a difference. I think that part of the reason that I have this fear is that I am not around a lot of elderly people. My grandparents on my dad's side are adorable. All of my great aunts and uncles and my grandparents are in a camping club. They travel all over the country, they play cards and dominos. They have friends they get out and do things they are actually kind of fun to hang out with. I love listening to them telling stories and advice. They can hold real conversations and don't repeat themselves a thousand times because they can't remember that they have already told you.

So today I tried to overcome my fear of the elderly by going to the nursing home through campus serve this morning. I took three other girls with me from my dorm including one of my prayer leaders Kelsey. She and I became buddies and walked around together. Brookly and April stopped in the first room that we came to and talked with a woman named Deborah. Kelsey and I continued to walk and found a table of ladies sitting together. So we introduced our selves and sat down. What we didn't know is that none of these ladies could speak or communicate back to us. We talked for a few minuets but what do you say to people who can't talk back to you? It was the most awkward thing ever. Kelsey and I kept looking at each other trying to figure out how to leave without being rude and after a while we finally excused our selves and walked away. The building is a square so finally we were back where we had started and hadn't talked to anyone else. April and Brookly were still in the first room so we went in there with her. After a little bit another girl brought a woman named Ruth in to join us. She eventually left because she got something in her eye. So Kelsey and I talked with her and she was very sweet. She told us about her life growing up and how she met her husband and how she got to travel to different states because he was in the Navy and about her two children. Right before we left we got to pray with her and she thank us and told us that we had made her day.

I can't say that this visit helped me conquer my fear, and in fact it may have just increased it but I would gladly go back to visit Miss Ruth. I think the main thing that I learned was that we all have different gift and talents and that although mine may not be ministering to these type of people I still need to love them and that by putting my self out there I can still make some great connections with people.

So my challenge try something new. Face a fear. And allow God to use you in your weakness.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy