Fresh Fridays: The Little Things

Cherry Blossoms in April

It is the little things that remind me of God’s goodness and His never ending kindness.  Although the past few weeks have been rough (evident in my last 4 posts that were tagged “death” and “tragedy”), I am forcing myself to stop and recognize the many blessings in my daily life.

I’m thankful for….

• God’s creation. It is finally spring.

1. Last month, the cherry blossoms began to bloom, and they bloomed everywhere. Everywhere! In the front of our place, on my walk to work, outside the clinic, on my commute home. The blushing pink flowers always lured me to pause in front of them and behold their fleeting beauty. When the wind blew, the pink delicate petals carried themselves along walking paths and decorated the sidewalks.
2. Yesterday, I noticed the chirps of the birds, calling one another (or trying to impress one another) as they sang, echoing the other.  It was like hearing birds sing for the first time, delightfully awaking me from my mundane walk home.
3. Today was the first day of the year that it was warm enough to go to work without a jacket! It felt so liberating, shedding the suffocating layers of Winter and leaping forward into light, airy Spring.

• Being a nurse and receiving from my patients:

1. a goodbye hug. Not just any hug, but the kind of hug you get from a friend that is actually going to miss you after
2. affirmation. When patients express their gratitude.
3. apologies in unconventional ways, like the gift of a sandwich for lunch. “This is to make up for last time, when I was rude to you. Sorry about that.”
4. hand written cards (a rarity) with the words, “To Soapie, my nurse…”
5. food. Especially the fancy pastries, like Italian cookies and pistachio macarons.
6. trust. it is not easy for a stranger to put their life in your hands and trust in you completely. You have to earn it. It requires time, patience, and faith.
7. play. With a child who has cancer. I didn’t think she’d make it this long, but she’s still alive. Kicking.  Swinging. Speaking. Not “well”, but aiming for the road to well…
8. introductions like this:“this is Soapie, one of her nurses. When she took care of her, I could sleep at night, I knew she was in good hands.” 

Indeed. The Lord is good. No matter how dark the tunnel may be, God is my Light and my Hope.

“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.”- Psalm 139:7-12