Page 54 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Fall 2019- Online Magazine
P. 54
HONORING SENIORS
REACH OUT
TO OTHERS
by Ken Branum, Chaplain
High Plains Senior Care Hospice
hen I was growing contact was made, and the patients but also to families
up, I was raised to visits ended. I wrote it off as of patients. We help them
Wshow intentional part of life which I now regret. “Reach Out” themselves to
respect. I was taught to say, The same thing repeated those from whom they have
“Yes, Sir” and “Yes, Ma’am”, itself when we moved back been separated for years.
and it became a habit that has to Canyon. We had great We have often seen mental
stayed with me. Our neighbors intentions to stay in contact and physical pain alleviated
became family, and we all with loved ones, and we because the patient or family
watched out for each other. always planned to call, write chose to “Reach Out”.
Inspiration
As I look back on those days, or visit TOMORROW, but then
I really do appreciate and tomorrow turned into weeks, I heard a song last week that
miss them. We didn’t lock which turned into months, reinforced my thoughts. “If
our doors, and we even left and then into years, and the Tomorrow Never Comes”,
the keys in our cars. Today, relationships have faded away. by Garth Brooks, brought to
many people don’t know Hopefully, it is not too late to mind many friends, relatives
their neighbors. They dash still “Reach Out” to them! and loved ones I haven’t
into the house after work and “Reached Out” to for a long
lock the doors, never meeting We used to regularly thank time; I hope it is not too late
neighbors or even learning members of the service - to contact them, renew the
their names. We justify the military, fire, police, and other friendship and let them know
lack of friendship by thinking service personnel, but do we that I haven’t forgotten them. I
we are just too busy. Maybe it remember to do so today? I hope, in reading this, you will
is time to “Reach Out.” have become lax in showing be inspired to “Reach Out”
my appreciation to the men to those who come into your
I remember annual family and women who work to keep thoughts.
reunions from my childhood, us free and safe, and I regret
and we often spent our Friday it. The great thing is that it is I recently received a call
and Saturday evenings at not too late to do it now. These from the son of one of our
Uncle Jack’s and Aunt Moe’s people leave their homes and patients requesting me to
house. They had a television family each day for us, and visit his dad who was not
set, and my dad and uncle for that we should all “Reach doing well. Of course, I said
always watched Friday Night Out” to them and thank them yes. We discussed meeting
Boxing. We made the effort from our hearts. that evening but decided that
to “Reach Out” and maintain the next morning would be
close relationships. The Bible reminds us to “Love fine. I received a call later that
your neighbor”. Do we really evening, letting me know that
When I grew older, my family do that? Are we “Reaching his dad had died. “Tomorrow”
moved to a small town in Out” with love to family, never came for me to “Reach
Oklahoma (Waynoka) for friends, neighbors and those Out” to him.
several years. When we first who serve us in society?
moved there, many friends I sincerely hope that each of
and relatives came to visit, and Throughout my years in Home us will “Reach Out” to others
we stayed in touch. However, Care and Hospice, I have been today before “Tomorrow
as time moved forward, less blessed to work with teams Never Comes”!
who “Reach Out”, not only to
54 Amarillo Senior Link
