"Patience" Waiting with hope.

Right now, a friend of mine is at the bedside of her mother, who is dying. Just last week another friend of mine lost her mother to a mean, fast acting cancer. People say you should never say “I know how you feel” because we never know exactly how another person feels. But in these particular cases, I do think I have an understanding of what these friends are going through. The bible tells us that this world is not our home, that this is our temporary home. As Christians we believe this fully, but this life is all we have ever known and because of that, we hold on tight.

One of the hardest things about our grief is that is seems so permanent. No amount of pain or tears will make our loved ones come back to us on this earth. But one day, we can go to them. So there comes the need for patience. Patience. Patience to wait and keep believing.

Recently we took a weekend trip to St. Simons, a place that is becoming my new favorite destination. My son-in-law spent many summers there as a child and has shared his love for the little island with us. However, traveling with a 2 year old is not much fun, so my Dana had the idea that we would leave at 9:00 pm at night and that way the baby would sleep on the trip down. Her plan worked perfectly and as she and I chatted and laughed the whole trip down, Dalton and Wayne slept like babies the entire trip. The condo that Dana had reserved for us boasted that they had the “best view on the beach” and we were anxious and excited to see it! After we arrived and unloaded everything it was almost 1:00 am and we were exhausted. I ran to the window and threw open the drapes to see the ocean – but it was pitch black dark outside. All I could see was what appeared to be dead grass or sand, and a few palm trees. I squinted my eyes, took my glasses off and back on again.  The ocean was nowhere in sight. I thought to myself that this place had no view much less the “best” on the beach. I sank in my bed tired and disappointed.

The next morning we all slept in until around 9:00 am. When I awoke, the sun was bright and shining in our bedroom like a spot light. I flung the covers off and run to the window and once again throw the drapes open, but this time, in the light of day, the view is indescribable. The ocean is perfectly still and glistening and what appeared to be dead grass the night before was the greenest, healthiest grass I’ve ever seen. I got Wayne’s attention and we were in awe. What we could not see in the darkness was now revealed in light of day and it was beautiful. That’s when I had my thought.

We can’t see the reason that things happen. Sometimes we feel like we’re literally in the dark. We question and wonder, and try to figure it out on our own. But the truth is we must have patience - patience to wait for the “Son” to reveal the rest of the story to us. One day, He will shine the light and our grief and pain will be gone forever, and what we see will be beautiful and indescribable. We will be reunited with those who have gone on ahead of us and what a bright and sunny day it will be. I suspect that day will make our beach view look like nothing in comparison. For now, we must be patient and wait. But praise God we do not wait without hope.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4, 13-18

The view that the light of day revealed. 

Camp WINGS 2011

Most people that know me know that I work at Heart of Georgia Hospice. Next week, I will celebrate my 6th year with them! To say that I love my job is an understatement. I have loved it since the very first day and thank God for it.

I have certainly had jobs that I did not love - jobs that made me nauseous as I drove to work in the morning. One time I had a job where my supervisor (a woman) was a tyrant. She finally gave her notice and moved out of state, so we had her “going away party” AFTER she left the building! Once, I had a boss that climbed up on my desk and yelled, “I AM THE BOSS!” over and over again. I’m pretty sure that was the first time I ever hyperventilated! (If you don’t believe me, I have living witnesses to this event that will testify!) Years ago, I had a job that I had to memorize the price of every product in the store and take a test each week. If you failed the test, you got fired. Thankfully I was young then and never failed, but if I had to do that today I’d be in the unemployment line for sure.

For me, the difference in my job today and those jobs in the past is simple. At Hospice we help people. People who are hurting. People who are facing tragedy, and need someone to tell them it’s going to be okay. At the end of the day, I feel like I was a small part of the whole that helped our community. Being surrounded by angels doesn’t hurt either. On a daily basis I work shoulder to shoulder with nurses, social workers, nurse assistants, chaplains, and administrative people who do things that are indescribable, undesirable, and sometimes just plain unbelievable. If I didn’t think people would think I was bragging, I would hang a sign over the entrance door in our office that said “Through these doors walk some of the finest people that ever walked the face of the earth.”

Our mission at hospice is that we give quality care to our patients, their families, and our community. One example of our community outreach is Camp WINGS. Camp Wings is a bereavement camp for children ages 6 - 16, who have lost a loved one. Camp Wings is designed to help children understand that their feelings of grief and loss are normal. With the help of trained counselors, social workers and volunteers, the campers will have a safe and supportive environment in which to express their feelings. Children enjoy arts and crafts, outdoor games, and great food and fun! However, what makes this camp different are the trained counselors who work with the children, split in groups based on age, and go through therapeutic sessions.

This will the 11th year that we have taken children to "Camp WINGS." Here at Heart of Georgia, we service 10 counties. However, any child who can get to camp can attend, regardless of where they live. Camp WINGS is for ANY child who has lost a loved one, not just children whose loved one was on our program. Many of the children represented are disadvantaged youth. These are kids who have lost mama, daddy, sisters, brothers, or grandparents. Many are from families who struggle financially as well as emotionally. They have never had an opportunity to attend a camp, much less a camp that would help them deal with their grief.

Now that you know this, will you help us? We need people to sponsor a child at camp. It goes without saying that during these tough economic times, raising money ain’t easy. We figure that it costs approximately $150 for one child to attend camp. Again, there is no charge to the camper and their family. We depend on people like you to help us. I’ve attached a “widget” to this blog. You should be able to click it and make a donation. Any amount will help. If the widget doesn’t work (and it may not because I set it up and got all kind of confused) just call me (953-5161) and we’ll figure out another way. Help us meet our goal and in the process you will be helping a child who needs some TLC. Also, if you think you might like to be a volunteer, call me! I will put you to work and you will come away blessed!

Camp WINGS 2011
Nov. 4, 5, 6, 2011
Camp Echeconnee, Lizella GA