All of us have read an inspirational story which made us smile, however, occasionally, a friend plays a significant role in one of those stories and it touches us in a special way. The previous church I pastored, The Refuge, was blessed to have Bob and Debbie Row serve as our worship leaders for many years. They are both extremely gifted musicians.
A few days ago on April 12, 2023, Bob posted a personal story on Facebook, which as soon as I read it, I knew I had to share. He detailed his visit with an elderly friend at a nursing home where he once worked. He shared a picture of a special piano and wrote, “Today I returned to play this piano after 20 years! This old ‘friend’ and I played the most important single song of my life. A resident at this community was actively dying among an apathetic family, who said terribly hurtful things in front of her, in her catatonic state.”
Bob knew her well and believed she deserved an extra measure of love in her final hours. He rolled the facility’s piano into her room and played what he knew to be her favorite song, Over the Rainbow.
He recalls, “She opened her eyes, lifted her head and smiled so big and full of love. Then she lay her head back down and died. Sometimes I think that God gave me music just for that one act of service. Now all the rest is simply for fun.”