Sweet Friday

Thank God for Fridays, it's been an intense week at work.  The kind of days that make
you come home and hold your babies tight, thank your husband for being all that he
is, whisper prayers of praise for all that you have.

I've been reflecting lately on how easy it can be to fall into a state of "poor me", to
take inventory of your life and still want more, to look over the small and simple
blessings that grace us each and every day.  I took care of a lady this week whose floor
has literally caved in due to flood damage after last year's hurricane.  She can no longer
use her kitchen or living room because there is NO FLOOR, only rotted wood and the
cold, hard ground peeking through.  There was a man whose blood sugar was
dangerously high and admitted to me that he has not been taking his insulin because he
can't afford to buy it.  His social security check won't be in the mail until early next week
and he's just praying that his blood sugar can hold out until then.  Another woman
hadn't eaten in 2 days and, when I questioned her as to why, she admitted to me that
her drug addict son and his girlfriend had cleaned out her house and left her alone,
with nothing.

Each and every one of these people touched me in some way this week.  Each one of
these precious souls brought a new blessing into my life, just by letting me into their
home and sharing their story with me.  We do what we can to help patients in need
but sometimes their life circumstances are beyond our control.  I can share my
turkey sandwich I packed for lunch, try to convince the doctor to give me samples
of medications that patients need, but sometimes it's just not enough.  Some people are
really, truly struggling in this world.  And you have to sit back and think: what problems
do I REALLY have?  What is that I am worried about: having too much to do, not
knowing how to manage it all?  Are these really problems?  My life is so blessed that I
have TOO MUCH going on.  It is so full of love and light and amazing people that I
sometimes fret over how to handle it all.

And that is, in itself, the blessing.  I take care of a little old lady who, every time I walk 

into her home and ask her how she's feeling, answers, "I'm good, darlin'!  Too blessed to 

be stressed!".  Now THAT is a mantra: Too blessed to be stressed!  I've been singing

those words to myself all week, imagining all the things this woman has seen in her 

lifetime, all the experiences she has encountered, the hurt and suffering and hardships.  

Yet she wears her smile so big and proud, too blessed to be stressed.  

May we all have the courage to live life in such a positive way.

{One of my favorite photos, Shawn in his mother's backyard, in awe of the
most amazing Arizona sunset.}