Monday, April 26, 2010

All in a days work

After a day of cleaning up "accidents", changing beds, feeding those unable to feed themselves and saying good-bye to a sweet woman.........I was exhausted and ready to say good bye to the day.
We have been working a shift that starts to get really slow around 3:00.....most are taking a nap or playing bingo or some other event planned for them by the nursing home. 
And since we don't finish up until 4:45......the time drags miserably.
At the beginning each individual had a long list of skills they had to perform while being checked off by a teacher....but since we have all been checked off on each skill......... the teacher decided to hold a meeting so we could practice for our state test.
We met in a conference room around 3:00 and we began oral drills.
A state skill was called out and we had to speak what we would have done.
We did this for awhile and then conversation began to drift. We began to talk about how we each of us found our way into the program.
Some are there because they are on their way to the nursing home....and others like me were there as a change in career.
Our teacher who knew I was from Louisiana asked how far I had lived from New Orleans. And of course that led to the food and filth found in New Orleans. She and her husband (a pastor) had made a visit there several years ago. Since she knows I am a Christian she mentioned that while in the French Quarter she was amazed by the feeling of the "darkness" in the air. AND......we were off!
I shared about spending much of my early years there with Mom and Dad's ministry.
I was excited to find myself caught in the middle of a discussion about God..
And before I knew it the women were opening up about their pasts.......their relationships with God and how they had strayed. Now....of course our teacher could not say too much....but she did jump in when she could. We actually spent about and hour talking about what had driven some from church and how they knew that they needed to return to the Lord. The one conversation that I thought was the sweetest?
There is a young girl who was raised in a "Christian" home. And like many of us have experienced in one way or the other.....the authorities in her life wore the label but their lives did not match what they claimed. She said that she believed in God.....but had an open mind to other things. There was such pain bound up in her sweet voice.....my heart really went out to her. I could have sat knee to knee with her...as could a few others in the room.....and told her of the Love of the One who sits on the throne.
But since I didn't want to put her on the spot......I waited until our meeting was over and asked her if I could speak to her just a moment. I told her I didn't want to be pushy but I would like to tell her a little something. I told her that I wanted her to know that often we picture God in a warped way when the one telling us about God does not live a godly life. I told her that before God showed himself to me I pictured Him as some harsh, unloving God ready to smash me as soon as I did something wrong. I didn't want to put words in her mouth....so I just encouraged her to go for the real picture of God in the Bible.
And I asked her to ask God to show her who He was.
She said...you know my step dad has been telling me the same thing.
And of course I had to tell her......."He loves you so!"
So....it was a good day!
And remember me telling you awhile back about the girls being really ugly to the guy in our class?
One of those ladies was in our group.....and she admitted that she had drifted from the Lord and needed to return! I was riding on a cloud on the way home today. 
You know we often want to avoid those who are harsh and mean......but they need the love we carry. I have been praying for her......and today God opened the door.
Please pray for the seeds that were planted today. Tomorrow is our last day of clinicals and then we go into mock testing to get us ready for the state exam. I am excited about what He has done and anticipate what He is going to finish in this time left.
Thank you for your prayers......prayers that were for those you did not even know about. :)
God is good
All the time
All the time
God is good!

He is faithful to complete that which He started!
Love you big time!

 


13 comments:

Denise said...

My prayers and love will never cease for you sis.

pam said...

The "ugliest" person usually has a wounded, lost little child hidden away in their very depths. Loving the unlovely...so hard, yet so worthwhile. Blessings of all His best!

Halfmoon Girl said...

Yes! I love to hear how God is working in that class. You are there for a reason!

Fitter After 50 said...

I'm surprised you were able to drive home. I'd be drunk with joy and probably driving all over the place. :) I wonder if you even remember the drive. :) So happy for you my friend!

luvmy4sons said...

Loved this post!~ Thanks so much for sharing. It is so neat to see how God uses us in each and every situation He places us. What a blessing you are to others. And what a blessing God gave you that day! What a wonderful story of God's goodness. Love and hugs dear sister. Keep shining His light in your world!

Mom Gidcumb; Dad Gidcumb said...

Brings joy to our hearts, darling. God IS using you!! The harvest is coming. Love you! Mom & Dad

Kelly said...

Hi , i just visited here and love you blog !
Here also you can read one another blog to one briliant and amazing woman she serve to LORD ,too!!
She changed my life ......it is a long story please visit her here http://www.clinging2hope.blogspot.com/
Blessings from England !

~ KELLY~

SunnySusan said...

How awesome Sharon....God is using you....and I will continue to pray..

Lisa N Alexander said...

Awesome Sharon! Absolutely awesome! Praying for all you shared with and thank God for the increase! You have such purpose and love how you're available to be used by Him anywhere! I appreciate you're not being shy or backing down from your testimony or witness. Keep doing what you do...The Father is well pleased. The Kingdom is advancing in your neck of the woods!

Shirley said...

What a wonderful post! One of the best blessings is to know you are in God's will and are being used by Him for His glory. This is what I need for my life....I want to be used for Him. Please pray for me.

Terri said...

I can only see your light shinning, drawing every thing that is true and just and right to others. What a blessing you have been to that class. I know you are right where God wants you and this is amazing.
May we all shine!
Terri
Oh since you are going into the medical field, I wanted you to know it was not steroids which caused the hallucinations. Combo of a drug for spinal cord injury then another for nerve pain.Really messed up my central nervous system. I'm good now. :-)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post (yet again!). You'd be good in the medical field and I'm glad to hear/see how God is using you!! ((( hugs )))
D

kanishk said...

I'd be drunk with joy and probably driving all over the place.
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