Communion With Amy

Amy had been battling with brain cancer for over 4 years and her last operation left her paralyzed on her right side. Amy’s paralysis and declining health made it very difficult for Tom and Amy to go out, so once a week Robin and I would go and visit them and help them in whatever ways we could.

One of the things that they missed was going to church and being with their church family and because of this, Tom asked if we could share communion or the Lord’s Supper together. So every time Robin and I went to visit them, we “broke bread” together.

One day as we were having Communion, I wondered if what we were doing was a worthwhile endeavor. Amy had difficulty communicating—her vocabulary was limited to a few words and a few short phrases that she used over and over. She had problems processing information and a lot of times the answers that she gave did not match the questions that were being asked of her. In addition, Amy was not only paralyzed, but she had a very difficult time hearing. Her puzzled looks and her, “What?” “What?” and “Why?” were a good part of her responses.

So I seriously wondered how much Amy would be able to participate in what we were doing. I was uneasy and began to question, “Is this worthwhile?”

Tom then took out his guitar and started singing the song, “Amazing Grace.” Not the old version that most people are familiar with, but a newer version of this old hymn. I was amazed when Amy closed her eyes and started singing the song with us. Every word she sang was clear and her melody was in harmony with the rest of us.

The modern day version adds a chorus to it—“ Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me, Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away!”

The words that Amy sang blessed my heart. It was both beautiful and wonderful to hear Amy sing these words. Hearing Amy sing this song with us answered the question I had, “Is this worthwhile?” The answer was a resounding, “Yes!” because I believe that it was these words that carried Amy out of this life and into His Presence.