Roy knocked on my door earlier this year and asked if he could wash our windows, pull weeds, or do any other odd job so he could buy medicine for his wife. Parked a few feet away was a bicycle with a basket that held a bucket, a hose, and some cleaning supplies. His wife is in a nursing home, and he does odd jobs for extra income. I was touched, so helped out.

Thus began an odyssey that can best be described as confusing. Roy started showing up with increasing regularity. Sometimes he needs money for food, sometimes for rent, but always urgently. He is 68 and it was obvious that this approach was unsustainable. He needed a social worker. So I connected him to a local ministry that tried to help, but he wants to do it on his own, his way.

A month ago he needed $58 to repair his wife’s wheelchair. I said, “Roy, this is way over my head. I am not equipped or trained to know how to help with all these needs, never knowing when you’re going to knock on the door. What I can do is hire you to wash my car once a week. That way will give you something you can count on. I will even pay you for holidays.” He lit up as the dignity of having a steady job sunk in. So for the last three weeks, Roy has washed my car each Thursday.

Last Thursday a nurse from the local hospital called on behalf of Roy. He had a stroke. Yet he was so concerned that he wouldn’t be showing up for work that he asked her to call. That’s not all. He himself called five minutes later, slurring his words, just to make sure I wasn’t upset. Who does that?

Roy is in a nursing care and rehabilitation center now. I went to see him yesterday. I also visited with the social services director and explained his situation as best I could. There’s so much more to the story, but would you please pray that Roy gets the professional help he needs? Thank you.

Until every church disciples every man…

Pat