Brother Zhang was an unfortunate person. When he was about 16 or 17 years old, he suddenly fell ill, leaving him paralyzed and bedridden for more than 40 years. Initially, Zhang's mother was able to take care of him. But after more than ten years, she also passed away due to illness. The local church had organized its members to show their love and care by donating essentials for Zhang, helping him turn in bed, cooking, and feeding him. However, as time passed, fewer and fewer people were willing to help, and in the end, no one was willing to continue assisting him.
Zhang had a very devout faith. Perhaps God had mercy on him and heard his prayers, allowing him to meet Pastor Zhu. Once, Zhu came to serve at a nearby church and learned about Zhang’s urgent need for help. He wanted to take Zhang into his own home and care for him.
However, at this critical moment, someone stood up and objected. Pastor Chen said to him, "Maybe others can do this, but you cannot." He explained, "You are appointed by God, and your work isn’t just to serve him at home; you still have many other responsibilities. So, you can't take Zhang home."
Although Pastor Chen disagreed with Zhu bringing Zhang home, there wasn’t a better solution at the time. During this period, Zhu, Chen, and others frequently visited Zhang, helping him eat meals and use the restroom.
During a Christmas program rehearsal at the church, a young Christian man heard that Zhang's living situation was bad and that Zhu was constantly worried about it. He suggested sending Zhang to a nursing home. The first home he recommended only accepted residents capable of self-care, referring Zhu to another home that could take care of those who couldn't care for themselves.
After signing a series of agreements, Zhang was admitted to the nursing home. But kind-hearted Zhu was still concerned. Having cared for Zhang for so long, Zhu knew that Zhang’s situation was different from others. Zhang was, in fact, "unpresentable"—he was filthy and smelly. Zhu worried that even if Zhang moved into the nursing home, they might eventually "return" him.
However, after visiting Zhang, the nursing home director reassured Zhu, saying to him, "Don’t worry. We will take Zhang. You’ve been serving him all these years without complaint. Taking care of him is our job—we can’t turn him away."
By this time, Zhang hadn’t had a bath or haircut in many years. He looked like a wild man—his hair was long, longer than many women’s, and it was matted like "mud cakes." His body was filthy and stinky. Bathing him was no small task. Zhu found a nearby bathhouse that had just opened, and since it hadn't launched yet, the owner gave them the largest bath.
In the end, it took Zhu and two others three hours to bathe Zhang. In fact, Zhang hadn't bathed in 28 years. At least 500 yuan, Zhu calculated, would be paid to the owner, as they had used the largest tub and taken up over three hours.
Zhu insisted on paying, but the owner just accepted five yuan, touched by this outsider's heartfelt care for a local man after knowing it.
He spent more than eight years at the nursing home. At the end of 2019, when Zhang's life was nearing its end, his family came to the nursing home and brought him back to the village. The next afternoon, he passed away.
Zhang lived a total of 58 years in this world. For over forty of those years, he was completely paralyzed, leading an extremely tragic life. He never accomplished anything; his life seemed utterly meaningless. But it seems that through Zhang, God was trying to tell us one thing—God loves all people, without exception. Even if someone hasn’t done anything or can’t respond to God in any way, they are still loved by God.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
