Pray
“Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over yoou, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14 (NLT)
This post is not particularly in order, but the best and first thing you can do is pray. Pray for the patient’s (or place a family member/friend’s name here) body to heal, their mind to find peace and their soul to be comforted. Pray that God would meet them exactly where they are.
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Martin Luther
Prayer opens the door for hope, even in the darkest rooms.
Ask Questions
Sometimes we don’t know what to say, but that’s okay. Start with questions. Ask about the patient’s diagnosis, the hospital’s visiting hours, what they might need (e.g., food, a warmer blanket, etc) and any health/medical restrictions they might need to follow. Questions show care and give space for the patient to be heard. A gift you can give someone is your full attention.
Time
Another gift you can give is your time. Whether it’s a hospital visit or sitting with them at home, your presence can bring more healing than medicine. You don’t need perfect words, just being there is enough.
“Tiime is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” Theophrastus, Greek philosopher
Include Other
You don’t have to do this alone (especially if you’re a single parent). Invite others (a friend, family member, pastor, etc) to visit or support you to support your family member/friend in hospital. Community lifts the burden and multiplies love. Two is better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10), right?
Encourage
Encourage the patient to get better and stronger physically, emotionally/mentally and spiritually. Urge them to attend rehab, share about their feelings, emotions and mental state and stay connected to God through prayer and Bible-reading. A wod of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.
Normalis
Sickness can feel isolating. Help them feel normal. Remind them they’re not alone in this journey. Sign their cast or decorate their crutches. Or, I’m sure there’s a story about the mum who shaved her hair for her daughter’s sake, because her daughter had just lost all her hair from chemo (I know, this would be an extreme story and I’m not asking you to do it, but you get my point, right?).
Talk About Anything Else
Not everything has to be about doctors and test results. Talk about life, likes and dislikes, funny stuff, hobbies, books, anything that reminds the patient of who they are beyond their illness. Laughter really can be medicine.
“Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.” Charlie Chaplain