Closer Than a Brother

Ron paid a visit to John this morning.  He didn't want him to be alone.  He brought with him a CD to play soothing hymns.  Beside the bed was a cup of water with a swab - Ron took the swab and gently pressed it against John's lips.  John's eyes welcome Ron.

As long as I've known Ron, I've known a precious side to him.  In high school, on the surface, Ron appeared as the usual teen-aged guy; flirt,
party lover, play, and sometimes maybe a hard worker.   But, what most didn't see was this other guy.  If one studied Ron a little closer, he could always be seen spending time with those not as pretty, or popular as the rest of the kids.  Some of these students at our high school struggled to speak, or eat, not to mention fitting in.  These were his friends.


There was a time in those early years Ron when invited me to join him for a visit with a student at their home.  This student was older than high school kids by a year or two.  He was severely deformed making it uneasy to look at, let alone hold a conversation.  At school, I often saw Ron sitting with him during lunch, helping him with his food - feeding him at times.  I wasn't sure what to think of visiting this guy at his house, but I went.  To my surprise, the home was actually a care facility.  I was curious in my young teen years why he wasn't living at home with his parents - how could he live separate from his family?  I watched Ron  - I saw something more.

Over the years I noticed his care and attention towards his grandparents and other elderly relatives.  This tenderness spilled over into relationships of all kinds.  A woman from Russia, with whom we developed a relationship over time, became ill.  She called for Ron and asked him to pray for her.  When our daughter became quite ill several years ago - Ron knew, he could see it, she needed immediate attention when the doctors said, "Call us in the morning if she's not better."   She had a ruptured appendix and it was already showing it's affects.  He was with his great uncle Earl when he passed - he didn't want him to be alone. 

Recently, Bill's son, Steve, passed away.  Steve was mentally disabled, as is his brother Gary.  Ron has known Steve and Gary since they were kids in Sunday School.  He spends regular time with Gary and sometimes helps with little things like cleaning his shaver, or adjusting his suspenders.  Ron takes Gary to lunch or over to his dad's place.  Ron visits Bill, too.  Bill has cancer, nearing the end of his days.  Bill is worried about Gary.  Ron listens and reads to Bill - always from the Word.  Recently, Ron asked Bill - would you like to hear what the Bible says about your wife (who passed away several years ago).  Bill was interested, and so Ron read from Proverbs 31.  "That's her to a T," Bill says in awe.  "Would you leave it there by my table?"

Ron visits John weekly - he's been going for several months now.  John is about Ron's age, and once had a CPA practice as well.  John isn't able to talk much because of his illness, but Ron enjoys meeting with him - and, with John's consent, he reads scripture to him each week.  Ron also brings his guitar.  He found the other residents love to participate, so they sing hymns and have a little Bible study - they look forward to his coming. 

My husband paid a visit to his friend this morning.  He didn't want him to be alone.

Update: August 8, 2010
Both John and Bill went to be with the Lord today - John at 4:00 a.m. and Bill at 1:36 p.m.