Today I had an experience that well, just made an impact on me. I will just start from the beginning. This morning I was waiting for my COVID booster shot, scrolling through my phone looking for a gift idea for a friend and co-worker who is moving onto a different chapter. I came across an image that encompassed a Bible passage, Esther 4:14. Scrolling through my Bible app at different translations of the Bible, I did not come across the exact translation that was captured in the image I came across. The verbiage said this: "Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created". At the time, I just thought it was a nice passage that I wanted to keep close to me. For those that know me, they know that I went back to college and earned my Social Work degree a few years ago. My passion has always been to work in end of life care in some form or fashion and I have been blessed to have held positions dealing with various aspects of end of life care since then. For 2 years I had the honor of filling the role of a palliative care social worker in a hospital setting. My time was filled with being educated by some amazing people who shared with me their gift of knowing what to say, when to say it, how to say it. That education gave me the confidence I needed to fill my current role as a Family Advocate for an Organ Procurement Organization. Daily, as I sit back and process the role I have the honor of filling, honestly I am in awe and amazement and thankfulness. I meet heroes often and I have the pleasure of serving their families as they start a new chapter and journey of their new normal. Through it all, I do not take for granted the fact that God has given me the ability to have "those" conversations with people. Do not get me wrong; just because God gave me this gift does not mean it is not hard. However, I do hear from many people and it reminds me that not everyone can do my job. Not everyone WANTS to do my job. Not everyone has the desire and the fire in their belly to do this kind of work like I do. Of course, my past and current colleagues are all in similar situations as I am; they have the gift to be with someone while either facing their darkest hour or right smack dab in the middle of their darkest hour. I am humbled to be a part of that group. Back to my Esther story.
Later on in the morning, I arrived back home. As I was getting out of my car, a woman that I see often walking her dog, was passing by in front of our home. When I see her, I always try to strike up conversation whether it's just a friendly hello or something more substantial. Today was more substantial. In a very short period of time, she shared with me that she was facing some health challenges as well as her dog was too. I offered emotional support, as my social worker brain desired to do. However, I felt something more with her. As she opened up and shared with me the trials she was beginning to face, I found myself wanting to know more about her and offer her friendship and comfort, however, I realized that seeing her for many years walking down my street, I never once stopped to ask her what her name was. An apology I offered to her admitting I was embarrassed for not asking years before, then I requested to know her name, after sharing what my name was. She stated that her name was Esther........the hair on my arms stood on end and goosebumps joined them. Immediately I shared with her my experience of coming across that image earlier involving the verse from Esther and the fact that well, I do not recall seeing an Esther verse in any other casual way; not on a shirt, or a billboard, or a social media post. My conversation with her continued on to share that I truly felt that my training and desire to empathize and support those who are facing difficult challenges gave me the knowledge to share encouraging and supportive words with her. The next piece of that puzzle is the fact that God put that verse from Esther in a place I would see it today, to be reminded that my new friend Esther came across my path so that I could share with her the love, compassion and empathy I have in my heart to be there for those who are facing dark times.
This post is not to toot my own horn, it's to encourage you to do a few things. 1. Keep your eyes and heart open for the God Winks in your life. They are there if you are open and willing to receiving them. 2. God puts is where we need to be when we need to be there. All things aligned for me to cross Esther's path just as she was walking in front of my home today......just wow. 3. God gives us the tools that we need to do the job he has created us for; whatever that may be. Some people are willing to receive your gifts and some are not. That does not make the gifts any more valuable. You can do your best to fulfill God's role for you here on earth. If those that you share the gift with are not ready to receive, well that's okay. As long as you do what you believe God calls you to do, you are fulfilling his plan for you.
Be kind to each other, love one another, be still so that you can receive those winks from God to remind you that he loves you and that he has a plan for you.
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