Every once in a while, life feels perfect. Overall, I would say I am an optimist; however, I am very aware that usually, things aren't perfect. Life is, more often than not, a challenge. Things rarely go exactly as planned. But that fact makes the times when things feel perfect so very valuable. How important it is to recognize and appreciate times when everything falls into place with such appropriate timing and detailed perfection. I don't think we were every promised a perfect world or life. I don't think we should expect it. But I definitely think we should be thankful when it happens.
My day was a shining example of such perfection. I don't know if I am just more aware of it because these days, I feel like life has been "falling into place" for me and I am conscious of God's perfect provision and timing. Or maybe God just thought I needed a treat. Either way, in the words of pretty much every Liberian I have met, "Thanks God!"
Any nurse will understand that having that perfect balance of "just enough to do without being stressed" on a given shift is a rarity. Usually, I find myself running around feeling about 12 steps behind where I wanted to be. If that is not the case, then it is the opposite, and there are too few patients and nobody needs anything, which is boring. And then there are days like today, when the shift flies by, and you feel accomplished and competent and had plenty of time to play with the beautiful little children that have been placed in your care. My favourite little girl, Sonnie, went home today. We had a bond. She definitely hated me for her first week here. Like many Liberian children, she equated white people with needles and painful medical treatments. So, I paced myself with Sonnie. Baby steps to friendship. The first day I taught her to play catch with her one mangled hand and her "good" hand bandaged from surgery. I slowly progressed to peek-a-boo. Soon she wanted me to hold her. Yesterday I taught her to hit other nurses in the face with balloons. Now, we were in love. Yesterday, she actually chose me over her mom. Maybe it is just my youngest child, only girl in the family syndrome coming out, but I am choosing to believe that I am her favourite.
Today, I got to discharge her home. There is a song that we sing here in Liberia that anyone working on the Africa Mercy will agree is the absolute WORST song for sticking in your head for days and days and days. "I've got a very big God-O, He is always by my side.....by my side, by my side". So, I am singing it as I am getting her ready to go home today and, I swear that out of her little voice comes "by my side, by my side". I am not sure if Sonnie speaks English. I am actually not even sure if, at less than two years old, she would be able to pick-up something like that so quickly and incorporate it into her vocabulary. But, I heard it. My heart smiled.
Then this beautiful baby fell asleep in my arms and I wondered how I would ever find any other moment meaningful ever again.
Then they sold grilled cheese in the cafe when my shift was over.
Could I BE any happier???
Every once in a while, life feels perfect. Overall, I would say I am an optimist; however, I am very aware that usually, things aren't perfect. Life is, more often than not, a challenge. Things rarely go exactly as planned. But that fact makes the times when things feel perfect so very valuable. How important it is to recognize and appreciate times when everything falls into place with such appropriate timing and detailed perfection. I don't think we were every promised a perfect world or life. I don't think we should expect it. But I definitely think we should be thankful when it happens.
My day was a shining example of such perfection. I don't know if I am just more aware of it because these days, I feel like life has been "falling into place" for me and I am conscious of God's perfect provision and timing. Or maybe God just thought I needed a treat. Either way, in the words of pretty much every Liberian I have met, "Thanks God!"
Any nurse will understand that having that perfect balance of "just enough to do without being stressed" on a given shift is a rarity. Usually, I find myself running around feeling about 12 steps behind where I wanted to be. If that is not the case, then it is the opposite, and there are too few patients and nobody needs anything, which is boring. And then there are days like today, when the shift flies by, and you feel accomplished and competent and had plenty of time to play with the beautiful little children that have been placed in your care. My favourite little girl, Sonnie, went home today. We had a bond. She definitely hated me for her first week here. Like many Liberian children, she equated white people with needles and painful medical treatments. So, I paced myself with Sonnie. Baby steps to friendship. The first day I taught her to play catch with her one mangled hand and her "good" hand bandaged from surgery. I slowly progressed to peek-a-boo. Soon she wanted me to hold her. Yesterday I taught her to hit other nurses in the face with balloons. Now, we were in love. Yesterday, she actually chose me over her mom. Maybe it is just my youngest child, only girl in the family syndrome coming out, but I am choosing to believe that I am her favourite.
Today, I got to discharge her home. There is a song that we sing here in Liberia that anyone working on the Africa Mercy will agree is the absolute WORST song for sticking in your head for days and days and days. "I've got a very big God-O, He is always by my side.....by my side, by my side". So, I am singing it as I am getting her ready to go home today and, I swear that out of her little voice comes "by my side, by my side". I am not sure if Sonnie speaks English. I am actually not even sure if, at less than two years old, she would be able to pick-up something like that so quickly and incorporate it into her vocabulary. But, I heard it. My heart smiled.
Then this beautiful baby fell asleep in my arms and I wondered how I would ever find any other moment meaningful ever again.
Then they sold grilled cheese in the cafe when my shift was over.
Could I BE any happier???