As a pastoral staff, most of us have had the opportunity to visit someone in hospital. It can be a pleasant experience as will welcome you with a smile, or they can cry like offering prayer and comfort. It can also be embarrassing. For members of your church, all of these situations can be frightening. Despite the fact that yesterday you were easily conversing as hitting golf balls together, today, sees coming and plunges under the covers. People really want you to come see them in that little dress? If bringing a card? A gift?
What do you talk about how the nurses breeze in and out of the room? If you try to cheer the person up? Please? Here are some tips from the chronically ill who have spent time in hospital. Feel free to modify this for use in the church newsletter, resource guide for how to better equip your church with some special tools.
"I wish people would just ask 'What can I do to help?' If they could just bring me a sandwich or make me some iced tea ... little things. Words like, 'I admire your strength in what you're going through' would bring me comfort. "-Martha
"Someone brought me a bottle of perfume and is just what I needed!"-Laurie
"When I am sick enough to be hospitalized, many visitors are not comforting. I feel I have to entertain. I'd rather not stay too long and add to my anxiety. I appreciate when they bring sources of spiritual healing, for example, a Guidepost magazine. "-Donna
"To keep me busy in bed, I enjoy spiritual tapes to listen to and spiritual music to keep me busy." Robin-
"I have a friend that is a big laugh. And 'contagious and I always feel better being around her."-Martha
"I would like friends to say, 'Is there anything I can do for you? I know there are evil, I say a little prayer for you to relieve pain, perhaps a bit'? ' "Judy
"I wish friends would offer their help and just call to say hello. Fine words are a pick-me-up. 'You are in my prayers' is good. It makes me realize that someone is praying for me. What seems best to pray alone. The disease is enough. "-Beverley
"The best gift while I was in hospital was a box of color crayons and a book from my 5 - year nephew." Marilyn-
"The mood is always good (except just after surgery). I just had a spleenectomy and my friends came and began to think that jokes make me laugh would be good. At that point it did make me laugh but I tore a bit of my points' and had a lot of pain. ... So "-Beverley
"My daughter sent updates to all my friends online. Then he made copies of their encouraging words, scriptures, and prayers and brought them to hospital."-Martha
"The things that brought me comfort were a new crochet book and a skein or yarn or thread, get a nice e-cards, a phone call from an old friend of homemade cookies and can of soda. "-Judy
"I like to get mail, or pick up the phone to find a friend on the other side. I hope they understand that if I do not respond with enthusiasm may be that my drugs I have sort of zoned out or I'm just a bad day, but I always appreciate their call. "-Terry
"I enjoyed the candy, flowers, books, hand cream, shower things, perfume. My favorite gift though was a burger from my favorite fast-food restaurant."-Beverley
"Having my husband be the most that could have helped more. When I was in pain, with my daughter and a friend rush to my side and pat me and show love helped so much."-Martha
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