Growing up with a father like mine, bored was never a word in our vocabulary. If we ever thought that word, we would act busy, for we knew that if we didn't, dad would put us right to work! He would send us to do jobs around the house, in the house, in the blueberry patch, at the barn, in the orchard, in the garden, in the office, or any other random assortment of places. If there was nothing to do, he would think of a special project just for us! One thing that I always remember him saying when we finished the job was: "You've worked yourselves out of a job".
I started thinking about my job tonight.... Performing CPR on a patient who had been talking and looking pretty good all day. He didn't make it. Watching a family as they made the decision to let their dad die. Seeing a middle-aged person who, one week, had no medical history, took no medications, was strong and healthy; the next week had to rely on loving family to do everything (which included signing papers): undiagnosed neurological problems. Having patients who are dependent upon drugs come in and want me to just give them more. A patient who found out that a brain tumor was the cause of passing out. A young woman just diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. . . . Behold, I make all things new." Revelation 21:4-5
One of my patient's told our tech: "I'm going to see you all in Heaven, because you all are little angels!" I truly hope I can make a difference in the lives of my patients, so that Jesus can come soon, so very soon. Can you imagine a place with no more death, no more cancer, no more sickness, no more crying, no more pain? I can't wait until I have worked myself out of a job!
