God's Plan

​Sometimes the ideas for the Blogs that I write come to me easily and I feel pretty good about what I have written. I’ve struggled this time because I want to convey something positive and uplifting, but it seems harder than usual to find a topic that fits that bill. So as usual I turned to my Bible and prayed. And it would seem that God was listening because I received something in the mail a few days ago that really 

Ellen Taylor

touched my heart and gave me a sense of peace and more importantly hope.

​The document was from Orchard Ridge Senior Living. It was written by Ann Johnson, who is not only one of our members but also the Executive Director of this facility. For those of you who may be new to our community and/or our church, I would like to give you a little background on this establishment. First of all, it has been operational for over 100 years. During that time, it has grown and changed in some ways, but it has not changed its mission. This organization exists to provide compassionate and sometimes charitable care to individuals who find that they can no longer remain safely at home by themselves. This can be due to aging, illness, or other medical problems. Many residents enter the facility initially with insurance coverage but often their benefits run out during their stay. That is where Orchard Ridge's Resident Relief Fund becomes available to these people. None of them will ever be asked to leave due to financial issues. And at this point, their care is paid for solely through donations from area Churches such as First Pres and also individuals like you and me. 
 
No one ever expects that they will be in a position where they can no longer take care of themselves financially or physically. But unfortunately, the unthinkable can happen. And it happens more often than you may think. Examples of patients currently at Orchard Ridge receiving charitable care include a 62-year-old with early onset Alzheimer’s, a young man who suffered a traumatic brain injury in his 20s, a 40-year-old with ALS, and a myriad of other scenarios. These are the types of situations that are hard to plan for, especially as we get older, and of the 67 current residents, 29 are over the age of 90. However, as Ann so wisely stated in her letter, "God does have a plan”, which is why this organization exists.  
 
I do have some personal connections to this facility. A number of years ago, it was my honor to have served on the Board of Directors for six years. Having this role gave me a real appreciation of the respectful care and dignity these residents are offered. And currently, my youngest son works there as a nurse. He has learned so much about compassionate care and the importance of respecting each person he cares for. We both have been blessed to have had these experiences. I hope this information helps you understand what amazing work is done by Orchard Ridge and how our church helps fund the Resident Relief Fund.
 
And please remember God does have a plan. For you, for me, for all of us. 
 
As it says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding: In all your ways submit to Him and he shall make your paths straight.”
 
In His Name, Ellen