After 20 years.... something new

It's hard for me to believe that I've been a nurse for 20 years. Seriously, I had to do the math... twice! Most of those have been in the wonderful world of Trauma. Nearly half of them have been in Advanced Practice - meaning, as a Nurse Practitioner.

Yes I have stories to tell - many I'd consider fiction if I hadn't witnessed them myself. I thought I'd experienced pretty much everything - and came close to stating that as a reply to a friend's Facebook status just the other day. But, apparently, I was wrong.

I was making my rounds. I introduced myself to a patient I hadn't met before. He was a young man, newly paraplegic. I asked how he was doing and assessed his injuries and current status. After talking with him and his family, I was preparing to leave. I asked him "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"You could pray for me... if you get a bored second," he said.

I nodded and assured him that I would.

All of a sudden, his mother - who, I realized then, was staring at me - said "Oh, Honey! She's a believer!!"

Together, they said, "Will you pray for me/him now?"

For those who don't know me well, let me say now that praying aloud is NOT something I am particularly comfortable doing. I have been sent woman after woman into my life over the past few years who have modeled the art of praying aloud. I know that they have come for a reason, and so when I am asked, I always agree.

I took his hand, and there we prayed. As I was finishing my "Amen." there was a rap at the door. In walks a woman who I know is very bold and outspoken in her faith. She quickly realizes what we were doing when she entered, walked up beside me, and slid her arm around me for a quick hug.

She talked to them a bit, and SHE prayed - all of us hand in hand. Then, she sang. The rest of us had tears streaming down our faces.

When she was finished, I turned to leave. Before I go to the door, I realized there was something yet to do. I turned toward the dry erase board on the wall, looking for a marker. There wasn't one, so I pulled out my pen. On a paper towel, I started writing.

As I handed it to his mother, I said, "In case you need some encouragement". She looked at it. "Jeremiah 29:11. I know that one - that is my verse."

"Mine too"