PAJAMAS

Thirty-two year old “Doug” suffers from brain cancer. He was diagnosed eight years ago and has outlived his doctor’s prediction by many years. Doug lives with his wife of five months, “Ellen”. The couple moved locally to be near Doug’s parents in order to get the support they knew they would be needing.

Doug was doing quite well until recently when he started to slowly decline. He has become weaker and starting to need more and more help. Two weeks ago, he reluctantly agreed to a wheelchair. Ultimately he was able to get out more and, in turn, has grown to appreciate the mobility the wheelchair gives him.

As of two days ago, Doug can no longer sit in his wheelchair. He is bed bound and dependent with all of his needs. Ellen, along with Doug’s mother, “Julie”, are able to manage his care, although it takes two people to move him.

The nurse and I went out to open Doug to hospice today. The family started sharing the tremendous support they all receive from their local Baptist church. Doug and Ellen have moved many times and, with each move, it is always a priority to find their local Baptist Church.

During the visit, Julie told us the story about the pajamas and the impact on, not just their local church, but all of the churches that Doug and Julie had attended over the years. The tremendous support keeps everyone’s spirits up. They know it is a big part in helping them get though each day and the challenging times ahead.


PAJAMAS
　

They were telling me about their church.
How they receive tremendous support.
It didn’t matter each time they moved.
The new church would always welcome them in.

Their church has been there throughout his illness.
It gives them all great strength.
Visits, prayer chains, phone calls.
It helps them all to continue on.

They told us about his last time in church.
He was weak, but determined to go.
It was too much effort to get fully dressed,
so he wore pajama bottoms while praising his Lord.

The other parishioners admired his faith.
They wanted to give something back.
So a few weeks later a tradition was born.
Not just the local church, but others around.

They all wore pajamas to Sunday worship.
Not only the parishioners, but the ministers too.
It was out of respect and love not just for him,
but for all of those shut-ins we sometimes forget.

Now each year there will be Pajama Sunday.
Honoring those in sickness and pain.
Worshipping God in night clothes and slippers.
All in the name of love and strong faith.