Let's Start with Thursday

Well, in order to start with Thursday, I have to actually back up to earlier in the week, or month, or year...

I work as a nurse in a very busy NICU. This year the census has been unusually high and the need to work over our scheduled hours has been almost relentless. I love where I work and what I do. Mind you, it is not the perfect job, the hours and days get exhausting, things can get intense and emotionally draining, but through it all, I have found it to be the most rewarding nursing job I have ever had. It took me a long time to finally get to the NICU, so when I say "most rewarding" that is not a loosely used phrase.

So, on to Thursday...
I had worked the weekend before and saw that the night shift on Monday was very short staffed. So, I negotiated a deal and agreed to work a 12 hour night shift on Monday. Knowing I had Tuesday off, I knew I could catch up on needed sleep then and continue on with my regularly scheduled week of Wednesday and Thursday evening shift. Easy peasy, until in walks another round of sinus crud and pure exhaustion to go with it. Not sick enough to call off, but enough to make it hard to get another thing done other than sleeping. I just kept going.

Wednesday I did my normal routine of Bible Study ( lovingly referred to by some as BS) and went to work early for a staff meeting. As I looked ahead to Thursday, I noted that the day shift was tight on staffing and I knew I was on call in the morning at 11:00. I mentally prepared myself for yet another 12 hour shift. Then, the good news came that one of my co-workers called to say she could work a day shift on Thursday. I felt a touch of relief. Our unit runs in such a way that we have the benefit of predicting somewhat how many patients our near future shifts may have. It isn't always 100%, but we can anticipate the upcoming needs and plan accordingly. So, I went home Wednesday night and hoped for a long slumber before heading back for my 3:00 pm shift. Usually if I need to be at work for an 11:00 call shift, I am notified by 9. So, when 9:15 came along, I felt I was in the clear and could sleep at least another two hours and then get up and prepare myself for the normal shift. I needed groceries, had nothing to eat in the house since I had started WW and was trying to stay on the plan. Jim didn't have a burning desire to cook and would grocery shop any time I wanted him to, but that particular week, I hadn't had a chance to even figure out what I needed in order to send him shopping.

At 10:45 my phone starts that annoying buzzing indicating that someone clearly did not get my unpublished memo about sleeping longer and being rested up. I picked up the phone and saw the worst two words a person can ever see on their incoming calls, "Charge Nurse!" ARGH...I knew immediately what that meant and jumped out of bed and headed toward the shower as I was getting the information on what was happening at work and why I was needed ASAP. Not showered (which was really stupid of me not to do that and then go back to bed) I rushed to get ready. As I was getting into the shower I thought about the fact that like Old Mother Hubbard, my cupboard was bare. I yelled for Jim to come into the bathroom. I knew he was home because I had heard him laughing as he was listening to me telling the charge nurse that I was most likely not going to be there by 11. He came to see what I needed. I sent him to McDonald's to get me a breakfast meal and COFFEE. He lovingly jumped into his car and headed toward McD's. I was ready in record time and grabbed what I could for my evening meal knowing I could supplement with cafeteria food. I got to the car, backed out to the end of the driveway in order to be ready to bolt as soon as my food arrived. Ryan called me since he had been aware of the fact that Jim had gone for breakfast.
   
     "Mom, Dad is getting you food." He thought I was leaving without waiting for the delivery. I told him I was aware of that and was just waiting so I could go. Jim finally returned, it seemed like a long time for just running to the McDonald's, but I didn't have time to discuss that, I just took off.

I looked at my gas gauge and to my surprise and delight, just under a half tank. I knew I could make it home and back (maybe a few times) without having to get gas. I have been known to have much less gas when I am in a rush to get to work. Drove Jim up the wall. 29 years of hoping I had enough to make it and knowing that I would eat crow if I ever had to call home for a gas delivery out on the road somewhere. Being ever so proud of myself for my critical thinking skills and great planning, I called Jim to alert him to the fact that I for once had been prepared for the trip.

     "Hey, you need to pat me on the back, I have just under a half tank of gas in my car," I said proudly. Jim then proceeded to tell me of his adventure to the McD's and what he did. As he pulled up to the drive through, somehow this woman cut him off or pulled too close or something. He threw his hands in the air, which is something he often did when frustrated with less than excellent driving by others. The woman in the other car rolled her window down and gave him a piece of her mind with a few choice words. As he ended up at the window before her, he told the cashier he would pay for her order (thankfully, she was only having a coffee). He was directed to pull over to wait on my sandwich. As the woman pulled up beside him, she let him know that she appreciated him getting her drink and that it wasn't necessary, she apologized for her actions and explained how she was having a bad day and he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He assured her it was not a problem and wished her a nice day. Speaking to me, his tone was that of someone not showing pride, but showing thankfulness that he was used in order to bless another person's day. I was so proud of him and was reminded of how much he really does mean to me.

I tell all this because to me, this is just like God. He planned these events; that rush to get to work that forced Jim to run for me, that call I made back to him to boast about my gas, that time we had to talk about the blessing he was able to give to someone else. All of those seemingly insignificant things, boring things in the everyday routine that suddenly, in the blink of an eye become sweet memories.

Little did I know at this time that this was only the beginning of the end and God was about to show up in many more exciting and crystal clear ways in hindsight.

Stay tuned!!