I’ll Meet You There

As a nurse, I often see individuals at every stage of their journey. Some people are happy. Some are devastated. Some are angry. We work on a daily basis with those on all ends of the continuum. All with emotions that we ourselves can, and will face on a daily basis as well.

One particular day at work was tough. It was one of those days when nothing went right. Lab values were way off. Things took longer than usual. The computer wouldn’t cooperate. It seemed like if it wasn’t one thing, it was another. I’ll admit I was tired.  

In the midst of what were inconveniences to me, I remembered I was taking care of somebody. A human, like me. Someone’s mother, friend, and aunt. If it were my mom, I would want her to have the best care, no matter what was going on. I had to focus.

Receiving chemotherapy isn’t exactly a place people want to be. It can be overwhelming and scary. As nurses, we try to help our patients pass the time and make the best out of the situation. This particular day, it meant sitting down and talking. Reminding my patient to breathe. Encouraging her to focus on the positive instead of negative because I know a negative mindset will absolutely not help.  It was all about how I spent my time. 

I had to choose patience in and through all of the questions. It didn’t matter what all was going on in the background because at that time she needed me. My patient needed me to meet her where she was even if it was just checking in on her every few minutes. Or delivering a pack of crackers, or a ginger ale.

As nurses I can say we don’t do the job because it’s easy. We do it to help and to encourage. I want someone to be there for me if and when I need it so I choose to keep showing up. Even when the days are hard. Even when the days are long.  Even when there’s multiple inconveniences along the way.

There’s more to being a nurse than meets the eye. On this particular day, it was about meeting this patient in one of her darkest moments. I had to choose to meet her there in order to encourage her to persevere enough to climb out of the darkness into the brighter moments that lay ahead.  It’s about meeting them in the tough times, because there are a lot of tough days through chemotherapy, and seeing them through to the other side.  We don’t celebrate happy moments enough.  

Every day we have the opportunity of being around someone who needs encouragement. Someone who needs a dose of kindness extended their way. Someone who’s trying desperately to keep fighting. I pray that we can all be sources of light in this dark world. May we extend hope everywhere we go.  To those fighting today, I’ll meet you there.  Let’s get in the trenches with those who need us today.

Proverbs 11:16-18

A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.

Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.