Change of Attitude
“Freely
you have received; freely give.” *
Most
of us have aspirations, even vague inklings, of something we would like to do after
we finish our education. There are also those careers that we definitely would
not choose…or so we think!
By
the time I had finished college, teaching math and physical education seemed
like the right lifelong career for me. There were two things that I did not
want to do for a living: be a nurse or work in the computer field. The decision
not to become a nurse was made while I was still in high school and was
volunteering as a “Candy-Striper” (Junior Auxiliary) at Mercy Hospital in our
hometown of Bakersfield, California.
It
was fun at first—getting to wear a pink and white striped uniform, being led on
a tour of the hospital with the other volunteers, and then being assigned to a
floor for orthopedic patients. However, my inexperience led to trouble when a
woman with a cast on her leg was being transported by wheelchair from her room.
When
her outstretched leg got stuck between the two hospital beds, she began yelling
for help! Her yelling quickly drew the attention of a nurse, who carefully
freed her leg and maneuvered her out of the room while I helplessly looked on.
Shortly
after that experience, another Candy-Striper and I got severely chastised when
we ventured into the neonatal unit to see the babies. After that, I quit
volunteering at the hospital. Nursing wasn’t for me.
The
decision to avoid working in the computer field came during college when
computers were big mysterious machines that had to be programmed using piles of
cards. That didn’t appeal to me at all, even though many opportunities were
opening for women in that field. Since I enjoyed both mathematics and sports,
teaching seemed the right direction to take.
Two major events have come together for Al and
me in the past couple of weeks though, putting me in the position of computer
technician and volunteer home care nurse! Just after returning from a wonderful
five-day visit to the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior, our main computer
crashed!
Al
and I had to spend hours working with real computer technicians over the phone,
first clearing out the memory, then reinstalling programs and recovering files
that could still be recovered. Knowledgeable friends came to our rescue as
well.
It
was enough to scramble my brain for a few days. But thankfully the computer was
restored little by little, to the point where it is now up and running again. Even
though computers are still mysterious to me, by God’s grace, I’ve become comfortable
using them and now am dependent on them for writing and publishing, among other
things.
While
we were struggling through the computer crisis, Al’s scheduled date for a total
shoulder joint replacement was approaching, with appointments, phone calls and
preparations that had to be made. I had some feelings of anxiety, thinking
about bringing him home after out-patient surgery and being responsible for his
care during those first days of recovery.
Then,
just a day or two before the surgery, a professional home-health care nurse
called to arrange for home visits by a nurse, a physical therapist and
occupational therapist. That lifted off the burden of concern from both of us!
As
much as I haven’t wanted to be a nurse, God has helped me care for Al through
many prior surgeries, giving me courage when feeling insecure, strength when
tired out and wisdom when not sure about what to do. And I know that He, the
Great Physician, will be with Al this time around guiding all who are involved
in his care, including me!
Jesus
told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) For each of us the cross may
be different, but the response to his call has to start with denying ourselves,
letting go and being willing to do what he wants us to do. As he as freely
given us his grace, mercy and love, so may we be willing to extend those gifts
to others.
“Where
He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I
will follow, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.” (“Where
He Leads Me” by E.W. Blandy)
*
Matthew 10:8b NIV
Comments
Post a Comment