Why am I Here?

I volunteered at our local hospital in a Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) until my Dad fell and he was no longer able to stay in his home and required more assistance.  He was a patient in four different acute care hospitals and eventually landed in long term care.  

On numerous occasions he would ask me “Why am I here?” and I would praddle on about the health care system and safety and people able to care for his daily needs.  One day he asked me again “Why am I here”, and we both paused and looked each other square in the eyes and I recognized a shift with a different truth to what my response had been prior.  I sat on the bed and told him I did not know why he was where he was, but if he had a pulse, God had a plan.  

My Dad was a person with a keen sense of wit and humour and on many occasions I would see people enjoying his company and conversations.  I told him that where he was in his life was not necessarily about him but perhaps more about the people surrounding him and the joy he provided to staff and visitors.  He was maybe not where he wanted to be, but he was where God needed him to be, doing what God needed him to do.  

We do not always understand the importance of where we are placed or know reasons for thetrials we go through.  As Psalm 31:14 states “But I trust in Thee, O Lord, I say, “Thou  art my God.”

Looking back at the past couple few years, I see how important this time was for me as I am heading back to volunteering in the Hospital Elder Life Program again.  God has provided me through my Dad’s experience with a deeper understanding of long term care to help the patients and families I will meet in the hospital with more compassion and understanding having been in their place.  

LSB # 853 stanza 1 & 2

Written by Margaret, LWMLC Communications Committee Ontario District

Serving in His Strength” is a blog

published by the Member Development Committee of

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2026