Dependance

Sometimes I wonder why the Lord has placed me with the team at my workplace. We are so different in so many ways, I wonder how I can make a difference for Christ in their life. Patterns are so etched in stone, independence and self reliance is viewed as the ultimate strength. The other day, one of my collegues made the hard and fast statement, "The only one that I can depend on is me!" and she firmly pointed to her chest.
I am not used to hearing statements like that in my Christian circles. Reliance on and submission to Christ is our goal in life. To follow His will for our life. I cannot depend on "me". I fail and I fall. My emotions sometimes get the best of me. Sometimes I get angry at my family when life gets overwhelming. I can't depend on me. When I fall it is because I have taken my eyes off of Jesus. I identify with Peter taking his eyes of Christ in the storm and starting to drown. Oh how often I feel like that impulsive and emotional disciple. Those days that life seems to just fall in on me. I want to crawl into bed and drown in my own self pity. I'm so thankful for friends that point me back into the direction of His steps. That is the kind of advice I need on those days. Not to count on "myself" but to always count on the One who never changes, the One who stands in my corner for eternity, the One who gave His life just so I live for Him here and with Him in eternity.
I guess I will continue just to be "real" at work and at home. I need to be tuned into the Holy Spirit "station" when I am with my collegues and speak up for Christ when led to do so. I want to be an example but I want to be sensitive to their lives. It is a challenging position to be in but I guess that is one of my "assignments" in life.

Two New Additions To The Family

Yes we have some new family members in our home. Yesterday my son and I went to the pet store and bought two zebra finches. I have always wanted this kind of bird as they aren't a "squawky" kind. The make sweet little squeeking noises. I have named them Ruth (actually Ruthie) and Boaz. In the book of Ruth in the Bible is the story of Ruth and Boaz. It is somewhat of a romance of its day and quite a lovely story. Since this union further establishes the lineage of Christ it is even more special to me. Perhaps Ruthie and Boaz might hatch themselves a little Obed!!!

.....and now for something completely different

There is no depth to this post but I just had to share the joy that I have today. I know it is truly summer when I can sink my teeth into a real toasted tomato sandwich. I mean tomatoes from the garden not the greenhouse and not the green picked, artificially "ripened" pale pink ones we get here in Canada from the southern U.S. before ours are ready. I mean the deep red, super sweet tasting, needing only a pinch of salt and pepper on two slices of toast with butter tomatoes. Yummy!! My mom brought be some straight from the garden tomatoes today. I'm in heaven!! It doesn't take much to get me excited, does it????

An Honor

I started college for nursing in 1980 so in essence, I have been nursing for 25 years! Sometimes I sit in disbelief when I make statements like that. I still feel like I'm in my 20s most days. However, when I reflect on my personal and professional life, there are an abundance of experiences that comprise those 25 years. My main nursing experience has been in critical care. For over 15 years I worked in intensive care with acutely ill people. I know, it sounds stressful and it was. I enjoyed that type of nursing then, but never felt like I accomplished enough. I wasn't sure what that "enough" was, until I began community nursing. The "enough" was the people themselves. I entered into nursing because I enjoy people. I enjoy getting to know them and their families. Community or visiting nursing will often give the opportunity to do just that.
Some people don't understand the job and think that it is comprised of simple tasks. We perform many clinical skills in the home as patient acuity is higher these days. Hospitals are discharging patients earlier and earlier. Hospitals are closing beds in Canada to save money but the patients do suffer. I remember just before I left the hospital that it often felt like it was a revolving door of patients in and out constantly.
One of the most challenging and rewarding areas of nursing in the home is palliative or end of life care. Many families are opting to bring their terminally ill loved one home to die. The services that are available enable that to happen. Hospital beds and equipment for the home, nursing and personal support worker care for the patient and family. It is an honor to be part of that whole process. The patient and the family fall under our nursing care. The family has invited the nurse into their world and one of the most vulnerable times of their life. Often it is just a listening ear and wholehearted support is all that is needed.
This week, one of the young women from our church is bringing home her 17 year old son who has cancer. There is nothing the doctors can do any longer for this disease that is no respecter of persons. The scenario that I just described will be theirs.
I wrote in an earlier post about how things like this seem so unfair. I again have to give this whole situation to our God that sees the panoramic view of life. He has a plan for this young man as well as all of us in His care. Who knows how many lives this boy’s story has touched? In the process of his disease, he has surrendered his life to the Lord. His new faith and love for God has touched those who have witnessed the joy that a piece of Scripture has brought to his face. In his stress of life, He feels the love of a God who carries him each and every day.

Now I lay me down to sleep.......

As a mother, I have found that the "bedtime routine" is anything but routine. Both of my children have taken that time to share what is on their hearts, the good and not so good. It has also been a wonderful time of teaching them the ways of the Lord through object lessons. Of course, they don't realize that they are being "taught" but that is the whole point isn't it?
The other night when I was putting my son to bed he started to share. In the summer we send him to a couple of Vacation Bible Schools. They are usually week long events for a few hours in the day. There are Bible lessons, crafts and lots of fun. They are primarily meant as an outreach tool of the church that is running them, but I do find that our Christian kids do grow and learn spiritually. Sometimes that growth is not realized for some time as I learned that night. My son started to share with me about a true story of a woman who was injured in a diving accident. This story was shared at a VBS not this year but TWO YEARS AGO!! This was the first time he had shared it with me. This woman of course was Joni Erikson Tada, a well known Christian speaker and author who became paralized as a result of a diving accident. He shared more about her life and since I have read one of her books, I was able to share about some of the wonderful things that she has done and that the Lord has taught her.
I was really moved about my son's compassion about Joni and people in general with challenging disabilities. I look forward to see what the Lord has in store for his future assignment in life.
Do check out Joni Erickson Tada's website!!

Challenges

Each day presents it's own challenges. I awake with a goal in my mind for the day. The challenges of the day and how I confront them determines whether or not I will attain my goal. Children, energy levels and priorities are some of the factors that I have in my day. After reading Sunshine's mother's blog today I realize that my challenges are but small "blips" on the scale of severity. I encourage you to read this Iraqi mother's post on her "routine day". It has certainly caused me to put my life into a different perspective. Life is so precious and we need to thank God for each day He gives to us. Kim

Racoon Eyes

Yesterday my family and I went to Paramount Canada's Wonderland. A full day of rides, water park and fun, fun, fun. Yes, I have racoon eyes. Not enough sunscreen on my face and an outline where my sunglasses were. My husband got quiet the laugh at me this morning!! Along with the sun burn I am also feeling every one of my muscles in my back in spasm. I guess I don't handle waterslides and roller coasters like I used to. I think the last time I was at Wonderland was 20 years ago, so do the math on my age. Yes, we had a blast though.
This morning I started to read some postings on the blogs that I have been following. I have started reading one of a 14 year old girl from Iraq. Her mother and aunt also blog. "Sunshine" as she is known on her blog, shares her life growing up in war torn Iraq. So many things are similar to any teenager growing up, but the differences bring tears to my eyes almost every time. Why can I enjoy a day in Wonderland and she can't leave the house alone most days? Why can I visit with family and friends and chat about life and laugh, while she and her family visit and talk about which neighbour has been murdered or abducted?
Perhaps that is why the Lord led me to these blogs for a greater purpose. I am to pray for this family in particular and offer encouragement when I can. He loves the people of Iraq as much as He loves you and I. He cries the tears along with all of them in their suffering.
I encourage you to check out Sunshine's blog and pray for this family and the people of Iraq.

Retreat

We have just returned from a few days away camping. Not quite enough time to truly "retreat" but I am intentionally trying to stay away from any work or personal commitments for a week. In some of my quiet time I did feel that the Lord was speaking to me about my self reliance. I do tend to get that way when things are going well. It is when my life is falling apart at the seams that I tend to cling to Him so tightly. I don't take the time for Him when life is "fine". Life is not "fine" if I'm running on my own strength.
Because of that I believe that many things in my life don't seem to be moving in the direction that I "want" them to. Perhaps He is trying to show me that there are many areas in my life that I seem to rely on my own strength.
He also spoke to me about my obedience or should I say my "lack of" in areas concerning relationships. I have been tending to retreat within myself, or should I say becoming somewhat introverted even at home with family. That isn't a healthy state for family and especially a marriage relationship. That will be a constant challenge for me as I do tend to retreat when I'm feeling low. Could it be spiritual depression? I have just started reading a book on that topic. Is it another attempt at diagnosis? Perhaps this diagnosis is a little closer to the real Truth?