’I hated being alone, but sharing the Bible in my care home has given me new purpose’

As we mark International Friendship Day, I’ve been thinking about the friends God has brought into my life. At a time when friendship was what I needed most, moving into an assisted living care home and sharing the Bible has helped me find that, and so much more. 

But just a few years ago, none of this seemed possible. “Unless you go to live among people again, you’ll never regain control of your feelings and emotions,” the doctor said to me.

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Those words came as a big relief. I realised I’d never have to live on my own again. I first experienced anxiety when my late husband, John, retired in 1998. It was manageable until John passed away in 2018, and I soon found myself unable to be at home alone without experiencing panic attacks.

I moved into De Lucy House two weeks after that doctor’s appointment, during the pandemic.  Now I’m 90% back to the person I was. God used my church and De Lucy family to help me regain control of my mental health, rebuild my confidence, and deepen my faith.

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One morning at church, I had this overwhelming feeling: I needed to start something at De Lucy House. Soon after, I started a monthly worship service, supported by my wonderful friend Jennifer. A third of residents now attend and it strengthens my faith too.

Not long after, I was introduced to Bible reading guides by my church minister, called The Word One to One. They go through John’s gospel, a few verses at a time, with short explanations in plain English. It felt like the perfect thing to use.

I started asking some of my friends if they’d like to read The Word with me

I started asking some of my friends if they’d like to read The Word with me and God has opened the door for one-on-one friendships to blossom through reading together.

There are many of my generation who grew up going to church, but never really discovered that God loved them personally. This was true for Barbara.

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Barbara was 90 when we met, an expert knitter. She was a lovely lady, and her face lit up when someone needed her help. But she had a very low opinion of herself. She jumped at the chance to get to know Jesus better, and so we read John together in the evenings. I’ll never forget her look of pure joy when she realised God loved her just as she was. As we read and prayed, our friendship grew, and so did Barbara’s self-esteem. A few months before she passed away, she gave her life to Christ.

Later, Stella moved into Barbara’s old room. She’d spent mealtimes in her room because she was quite frail, but she was a lifelong Christian. I asked if I could read the Bible and pray with her. Through reading together, Stella has become much more outspoken about her faith and closer to God, understanding that he cares for her and that she is still important to him, even in her frailty.

Since so many of my peers have a church background, the Activities Lead asked me to help revive that interest.

Since so many of my peers have a church background, the Activities Lead asked me to help revive that interest. So in February this year, I started a Bible Reading group on Sunday evenings, using The Word One to One. About seven people come regularly. Our eldest resident—aged 105— attended before she recently passed away. It’s been a wonderful time of friendship and no one’s ever in a hurry to leave. I’m also supported by De Lucy’s wonderful bookkeeper, Andrew, who is also a Christian.

Looking back, during my periods of anxiety, I had begun to draw away from God. I saw myself as a weak Christian. But now I understand my anxiety was an illness—and I can also see God working, removing every hurdle.

I can’t take part in my church’s outreach activities, but De Lucy has become my mission field. Bible Time is one way that I can serve the Lord and prayerfully help people to know Jesus for themselves.

International Friendship Day reminds us to celebrate friends, past and present. Take it from me, it’s never too late to make new friends. So be encouraged to have a go at Bible sharing, and see where God leads you.