Never before in my life, have I actually asked to work more often than my normally required shifts. But here, it's different, I do ask to work more. I'm always asking the manager if they have any open shifts that need coverage, because it's such a blessing for me to get to work here. It's a privilege to work with the patients I get to work with. A privilege. And it's a totally strange anomaly to actually really want to be fully engaged and present at your job.
I had a great twelve hour shift in the IPU (our little small hospital at the main campus) the other day. I just love passing out medications to patients that I know are actually helping them then and there. Once the anti-HIV medications start kicking in, it's amazing to watch people gain weight, see the color come back into their faces and watch strength come back into their limbs as time goes by. And even more than their physical health improving, I see HOPE come back into their eyes. They start to sit-up and eat, and smile at the people around them, and LAUGH and sing. It's beautiful.
I was helping to feed one of our dementia patients lunch on Monday during my shift, and was taken by total surprise when she started singing to me in the middle of her lunch. For most of the day she had been babbling incoherent phrases, talking to herself and making very little sense. Completely confused she mumbled nonsense words over and over... "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Water. Water. Water. Baby. Baby. Baby." After awhile everyone learned to tune her out, just to get on with their work. But as I was talking to her while she was eating, she suddenly started to sing. Clear as a bell, she sang perfectly:
"Oh how I love Jesus. Oh how I love Jesus. Oh how I love Jesus because He first loved me. To me He is so wonderful. To me He is so wonderful. Because He first loved me. "
I was shocked. All this time I thought that she was totally out of it, but I was just missing out on the way to connect with her. The nurse assistants picked up the tune and soon we had the whole ward singing. The carers actually sing to the patients at least twice a day and it's one of my favorite things to hear. Hearing their beautiful voices in harmony just resets your whole perspective. It kinda centers your whole day and reminds you why you are here. It's hard to have a bad attitude or get frustrated with routine tasks when you are singing hymns that remind you of Who is really in charge of your whole day, and in charge of every patient, and in charge of every moment from here on out.
It was a really good shift and I can't wait for another.
Beautiful Amy! This is just beautiful. There's no greater thing than lifting up the name of Jesus. I have a friend w/cerebral palsy, and watching her face in worship makes my heart skip with joy! Would so like to hear the singing in the clinic-I'm singing the same song here in TN, and glorifying God for His work in and through you and those @ Living Hope!I love you!
love
This makes my heart happy.