My View of Life - Never Better!

Thank You, I Will Always Love You

Professionally I'm a Registered Nurse. Over the past 30 years I've worked in just about every nursing environment there is. I've cared for a multitude of patients with any number of illnesses, injuries and disease. But the years haven't been easy on me either.

I'm on the eve of 60 years old. I've struggled with rheumatoid arthritis for 17 years, and fought the battle of cancer. I do everything in my power to maintain the best physical, emotional, and spiritual health possible, but I'm still the oldest nurse on the floor, and my immune system is compromised from my daily medications.

The experience I had yesterday in the ER tugged at my very heartstrings. It reminded me of one of my favorite stories.

Some 150 years ago there was a small farming community. Times were hard and work and income were earned with difficulty. The local school house also struggled to find a teacher. The 20 or so kids ranging from 6 years old to 16 were so unruly that no teacher could last.

One day a new teacher arrived. He simply started the class by stating all proper educational settings required rules, and asked the class to state the rules as well as affix a penalty if that rule were to be broken.

The class did so, and the punishment affixed was rather severe including a whipping with a willow in front of the class. "So be it," the teacher announced. "From this moment forward we will abide by these rules."

Miraculously there was no further miss-behavior in the class for weeks. But on the third week big John's lunch was stolen. A hush settled over the room. The teacher asked that the culprit step forward.

After a few moments little 8 year old Timmy made his way to the front. "It was me he sobbed. I was so hungry. My family went without food last night and again this morning."

"Do you remember the rules?" the teacher asked.

"I do." Slowly he took off the shirt he wore that was a hand-me-down and much too big for him. He was bare foot, and the pants were worn and had a number of holes.

The teacher gasped as he beheld the little bony back of the youngster leaning over his desk. But he knew in his heart that the penalty had to be carried out or there would be no order in his class room from then on.

He made his way to the corner and retrieved the willow. He made his way around the desk and raised his arm, the recognition of what he was about to do tearing at his very soul. Tears started to course down his cheeks. His arm wavered. His head bowed. The whole room was silent.

He could not strike that little soul. He gritted his teeth knowing the consequence of breaking their own law. Just as he was going to lower his arm he heard steps on the creaky wooden floor. It was Big John, 16 years old, 6 feet tall and all of 180 pounds.

"It's okay little guy." Go back to your seat. Big John proceeded to remove his shirt then he leaned over the desk. "Get on with it sir," he told the teacher.

The teacher looked on at Big John, knowing that his merciful act would satisfy the demands of justice. The whipping took place. Big John turned to go back to his seat. But what happened next had the entire classroom in tears. Little Timmy was hugging Big John around the waste, sobbing uncontrollably.

Finally he mustered, "thank you, I will always love you." '

Yesterday we received the ambulance call on our ER phone. The patient coming in was in severe respiratory distress and displaying the symptoms of covid-19. I quickly gowned, gloved, double masked and obtained the proper eye wear. This was my job of 30 years, and there would be no hesitating.

Of course the thoughts of my wife, my children and grand-children coursed through my mind. I've fought cancer. I know what it's like to think this may be the end.

I was standing there talking with the Dr. who would also be caring for her when my charge nurse showed up. "I've talked to a younger nurse in good health who is going to care for this patient." '

At first I was stunned. Such mercy being shown to me? The patient was wheeled in on the gurney. I observed her status and noted she was in severe distress. The young nurse went in without hesitation and cared for her.

I went about my job caring for other patients, but my heart could not revert from what just happened. A young nurse just put his life on the line for me. As the moments rolled by there welled up in me a love for this young man that will last forever. Is this not the plan of our Father in Heaven? His children stepping up for others of his children in their time of need?

When it was over and the patient was taken to ICU, all I could do was go up to him and say, "thank you, I will always love you."