A blogger who cared

Last week I blogged about two lovely ladies called Doris and May who at the ages of 93 and 90 had to move from one home to another and the turmoil that it has caused them both. One blogger read the post and asked if she could send them presents for Christmas. I gave her my address and yesterday morning I collected her parcel from the Post Office and today I had the great pleasure of delivering her gifts in person to Doris and May.

May and Doris with their gifts

I explained to Doris and May (as best I could) that a blogger friend, who I have never met in the flesh but have only corresponded via our blogs, had sent gifts as well as Christmas cards from her children to them both - Doris burst into tears. Through her tears she responded 'I can't believe that this dear lady, who doesn't even know us, and gone the extra mile this Christmas time and thought of us'

Doris examining her gift

One of the gifts was a hand knitted lion from a rural community group in Kenya. The lion came with a card, which I read out to them both - it told of the group and how the ladies knitted these lions to raise money for themselves and their family. The card attached to each lion also gave the name of the lady who had knitted it. Doris' lion was knitted by a lady called Esther - her response was 'A lady I don't know in Kenya has knitted this lion to help her family and another lady that I don't know has made it possible to reach me today - I shall pray for them both'.

So thank you my blogging friend for bringing some Christmas cheer to Doris and May.

Doris and May

May and Doris in Doris's room

This morning I visited Doris (93) and May (90) to see how they were settling into their new accommodation. Their previous home Cloud House, where they both had lived for nearly 20 years, has closed down and the residents have been moved to various other homes within the area. At any age it is an upheaval to move homes - not just the packing but all the paper work -notifying everyone of your new address etc etc. finding a doctor, hairdresser and for Doris a place of worship.

Under EEC regulations Cloud House required to be updated as the residents rooms were not on-suite, which they both now have in their new home. Their rooms are quite large; in fact Doris's belongings looked quite lost. Doris said that everyone had been most helpful and friendly, they enjoyed the meals, entertainment was provided in the evenings and they were getting used to their new surroundings within the home and the area.

One of the major downside of the move is that their rooms overlook a driveway where as in Cloud House they overlooked the church gardens and Revd David's garden - and I would often to see them sitting at their windows watching the children from the playgroup play in the garden and they loved watching the birds and squirrels at the feeders in David's garden. I would go out into the garden and wave to them make a sign for a cuppa and then pop over.

As I left them I felt that they had put on a brave face for my benefit and, in reality, they were finding it difficult to settle in. As always I shall visit them on Christmas Day and aim to keep a close eye on them both.

I would ask, even though you don't know them, that after you have finished reading this that you will say a prayer for Doris and May.

Gracious God, hear my prayer for all those who are elderly, both in this community and throughout the land. May none feel unwanted or useless, or that they no longer have a contribution to make to our common life. May your peace rest upon those who suffer poor health and declining mobility; grant that they might each rest secure in your comforting presence. Be with those who still retain good health and vigour, that they might find the proper channels for their energies. And be especially with those who have lost the companionship of the one who has been with them throughout much of their lives, and who consequently feel great loneliness and grief, that their grief might be healed and their loneliness transcended through the comfort and peace which you alone can give; for your love's sake, hear my prayer. Amen.

prayer taken from the Falkland and Freuchie Parish Churches