Hospitals are lonely places. The lights are always on, the machines beep all night, and the days are long. Many people in a hospital bed are scared, bored and far from home. And many of us stay away, because we are not sure we would be welcome.
There is a small scene in the Gospels that shows what a visit can be.
The fever
Jesus had just left the synagogue, the place where his town met to pray, with some of his first followers. They went to the house of Simon Peter, a fisherman who was one of his closest friends.
Peter's mother-in-law was in bed with a high fever. In those days a fever could kill. The family told Jesus about her right away.
He took her hand
The Gospel of Mark, one of the four accounts of Jesus's life, tells us exactly what Jesus did.
And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
Mark 1:31 · King James VersionThe original Greek
καὶ προσελθὼν ἤγειρεν αὐτὴν κρατήσας τῆς χειρός· καὶ ἀφῆκεν αὐτὴν ὁ πυρετός, καὶ διηκόνει αὐτοῖς.
Found in Codex Vaticanus (about AD 325), Codex Sinaiticus (about AD 350).
The word "immediately" appears in later copies, not in the oldest ones.
He came to her. He took her by the hand. He helped her up. Before the healing, there was a person who walked into the room and touched a sick woman.
We cannot heal a fever with our hands. But the first part, any of us can do.
Ways to help
Ask before you go. Check with the family or text the patient. Some days they are too tired for visitors.
Keep it short. Fifteen or twenty minutes is plenty. Let them rest.
Bring small comforts. A phone charger with a long cord, lip balm, warm socks, a puzzle book. Many hospitals do not allow flowers in some units, so ask.
Sit close and listen. You do not have to fill the silence. Holding a hand counts.
Help at home. Feed the pets, water the plants, bring the mail in, bring a meal for the family.
Help the family member who stays. The person sleeping in the hospital chair needs a break, a coffee, or someone to sit in for an hour.
Keep in touch after they go home. Recovery is slow, and visitors usually stop when the hospital stay ends.
Your visit matters
If you are nervous about what to say, you can let that go. The person in the bed will remember that you came. Jesus walked into a sick room and took a hand. You can too.