It's been quite a week to say the least...in a good way. I experienced a beautiful first Christmas morning with my husband, my first white Christmas, and first Christmas working at the hospital, and first Christmas not in sunny California. Such a beautiful day to celebrate Christ's birth and reflect on the blessings in my life.
What Gift to I Gift?
I think back to when I was a child and my mom used to have us write prayer intentions and gifts we would bring to Jesus on strips of paper, the "straw" we would then lay in the manger my dad had built out of wood with our baby doll Jesus inside it. It was what we were going to bring to Jesus to celebrate his birth. This has always stuck with me. I mean, you can't buy Jesus a present, but you can give of yourself and give back the gifts he has given you. Maybe it's sharing your voice in the choir, sharing your good sportsmanship in the sport you play, cooking or baking for those in need, visiting someone who's lonely, sharing your writing to inspire those around you, being an example of integrity and compassion in the workplace....there are so many ways to share your gifts in a given moment.
Story from this week...Know when to use your gifts...
The day after Christmas I was working out at the gym before heading to work. I had finished my run and was walking to the water fountain when the man in front of me fell to his knees, then his face, and slid off the treadmill. I ran over (remember I am an RN), helped position the man on his back and assessed his alertness and injury. He had hit his head but was alert and oriented. In speaking with this stranger he then became unresponsive and demonstrated seizure-like activity. A medic had come over to assist and we got the man on his side. The man's face began to turn gray, he stopped breathing, and I could not palpate a pulse as he went into cardiac arrest. The medic began compressions and someone grabbed the AED. We initiated 2 rounds of CPR and one shock when a pulse was then palpable and I called off CPR as the man began to breathe and speak to us. The paramedics showed up at this time to transfer the man to the nearest hospital.
In the midst of CPR, and compressions a woman came by, knelt down next to the patient, and placed the sign of the cross on his forehead. She didn't look up or say a word, and then she quietly walked away. This struck me most after the fact. The medic and I were able to coordinate the small team present to get this man's heart to pump again. That is our profession, that is what we do, we have been blessed with professions that allow us to practice medicine. In this moment it was our responsibility to exercise this gift to help this man. That woman may or may not have had medical background, but she had faith. In that moment she was called to pray and to share her gift of faith. By the grace of God that man's heart began to beat. Sure we initiated the recommended medical treatment, but that man's Guardian Angel was working overtime that day with the help of the prayers of a stranger. That was Powerful.
Just remember that gifts can be big and small. Don't be afraid to share those gifts, whatever they may be. God gave you certain talents for a reason. We are all here on this earth and in places at times on purpose. There are not accidents, just God's hand at work. View life and events by looking at the gifts and opportunities that each present. Every situation has a door to shine God's light and He shines through you.
Go be a light in the world.
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