Work with a Purpose

This week I had a call from another former family member.  This resident moved out to another facility that was closer to his family member.  Even though he has not been a resident in my facility for about 6 months now, I still get phone calls from his family member from time to time.  I am so thankful for so many things related to these phone calls.  I am thankful that our facility is only 16 beds so that I have the time to spend talking to previous family members.  I'm also thankful that with 16 beds, it allows me to develop true relationships with family members.  I am thankful that family members feel I have help worth sharing and they still call me from time to time.

My oldest son has finally realized he will need to go back and get his college degree in order to get a good job.  Right now, he is trying to decide what he wants for his major.  As so often happens, we have examples of various possible scenarios for him to help make his decision right in our family.  I have one brother that has a job that does well to pay his bills.  However, it is not really something he enjoys, it really is a "job" for him.  My other brother has a job he loves and he feels he is really helping others, but he is not going to get rich.  I am pretty much in the same boat with that brother.  I get paid a good salary and I am thankful for the owners of our facilities that I can work for a family who does things for the right reasons.  I am very thankful that at the end of the week anyway, maybe not every day, I know I am able to do small things that make my little corner of the world a better place.

I tell people all the time I am learning about wisdom.  You can have lots of knowledge, but with age comes wisdom, realizing what is really important.  I hope my son can find a job that he loves as much as I love my job.  Knowing I'm able to help people has always been important to me.  There are some days that I think helping other families distracts me from thinking too much about my own family and the road we are traveling.  At the same time, my experience with others, I hope, will help our family make the best of a very difficult situation.  To look back at the end of a day, a week, a resident's funeral and know I have made a difference, there is nothing more important and nothing more fulfilling.  I thank God for giving me the skills and abilities I have and the opportunity to serve others.