Muslim Care

With Mom in her final days, we've set up a family rotation at the nursing home, to sit with her throughout the day and make sure she's comfortable. Nancy and I showed up over the weekend to spell my sister. While we were sitting chatting Jill said, "Have you met Salina? I love her. She's fabulous!"

Salina is a weekend nurse who pulled a double both days, so we had a lot of engagement with her. If you've ever had someone in the hospital or a nursing home, then you know they can be pretty bleak places. They always seem to be understaffed and you have ragged nurses trying to keep up with demanding patients. 

Finding a nurse who is a star is like finding water in the desert. It's life giving. 

It didn't take me long to see what Jill liked about her. The first time I met her, she came in to take care of Mom. She spoke to her, patted her, cared for her, stroked her hair and kissed her before she left. It was some of the most loving attention I've ever seen provided by a care giver. 

Salina is a Muslim. 

She came in and out throughout the day, always smiling, always gentile and affectionate. When Nancy was alone, Salina took her half hour break with her and they talked about faith, traditions, her pilgrimage for the haj, why Christians don't wear head coverings when the Bible tells us to, all kinds of things. She told us how she prays for Mom and she's sure mom will be in heaven. 

And this is the thing I wish Christians in America would understand. Muslims are people. They want to live their lives, find love, raise children, live long lives and die well. Do they have a faith base that is different from ours? Yes. Do they wish the whole world believed like they do? Yes. 

And so do we. 

The problem with Islam is it is a faith with people who are hateful, vengeful and wicked. Guess what, Christians seem to have the same folks in our ranks. If you don't think so, go ask a homosexual. 

If you are a Christian who believes Muslims all over the world should be carpet bombed, you have a big problem because, 

"I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Over the weekend, Salina was perfect. And we should seek to be the same.