Sometimes it's easy to forget the importance of the little things...for example, we currently have a patient who's a local retired nurse. It's absolutely great that we can help her. I've worked the last three days and have had the privilege of caring for her.
'Beth' speak French, I've picked up a few words, but really I'm very limited to English. Even with the language barrier I feel as if we have made a connection. There's a mutual smile, and a wave for a greeting. Accompanied by a handshake and greetings exchanged in French.
All of the sudden I found myself wondering, when I leave she asks if I'm back tomorrow. If I say yes then her face lights up with a smile, yesterday when I said no she looked sad until I told her that I would stop by and say hello sometime today (which I still need to do, and will do).
What surprised me the most was last night. After I came back from dinner it was time for the visitors. One of her visitors brought in local food for her to eat (I guess eating pasta gets old), anyway, at one point we made eye contact from across the room and she gestured to her food offering me some. Without even thinking, I declined having just ate and being full. The look on her face made me feel as if I rejected her.
I wish I could say I went over apologized and accepted her offering. Instead of doing that, I had a patient that came back from PACU right at that time and so I was busy taking care of my post-op patient.
When I finally stopped to think about it today, I found myself wondering when did this connection with Beth happen? I've been her nurse, but I can't say that I sat down with one of the translators and just talked to her about her life and got to know her better. Was it really the smiles, the greetings, and attempt at French.
It makes me think of the saying, 'actions speak louder than words.' How true that is, but I don't know that I realized the power of actions until I depend upon them. I don't speak the language, at times I use actions to make my point. Sometimes the patients use action to explain what they need.
Actions...what actions portray love and acceptance? What have I done inadvertently that is the opposite love and instead inflicts pain and rejection? Which actions are most prevalent in my life? What do my actions say about me? Do they reflect the love of God? Do they bring Him the glory? How about in your life? What do your actions say about you?
Maybe the saying 'think before you speak,' should be 'think before you act.'
'Beth' speak French, I've picked up a few words, but really I'm very limited to English. Even with the language barrier I feel as if we have made a connection. There's a mutual smile, and a wave for a greeting. Accompanied by a handshake and greetings exchanged in French.
All of the sudden I found myself wondering, when I leave she asks if I'm back tomorrow. If I say yes then her face lights up with a smile, yesterday when I said no she looked sad until I told her that I would stop by and say hello sometime today (which I still need to do, and will do).
What surprised me the most was last night. After I came back from dinner it was time for the visitors. One of her visitors brought in local food for her to eat (I guess eating pasta gets old), anyway, at one point we made eye contact from across the room and she gestured to her food offering me some. Without even thinking, I declined having just ate and being full. The look on her face made me feel as if I rejected her.
I wish I could say I went over apologized and accepted her offering. Instead of doing that, I had a patient that came back from PACU right at that time and so I was busy taking care of my post-op patient.
When I finally stopped to think about it today, I found myself wondering when did this connection with Beth happen? I've been her nurse, but I can't say that I sat down with one of the translators and just talked to her about her life and got to know her better. Was it really the smiles, the greetings, and attempt at French.
It makes me think of the saying, 'actions speak louder than words.' How true that is, but I don't know that I realized the power of actions until I depend upon them. I don't speak the language, at times I use actions to make my point. Sometimes the patients use action to explain what they need.
Actions...what actions portray love and acceptance? What have I done inadvertently that is the opposite love and instead inflicts pain and rejection? Which actions are most prevalent in my life? What do my actions say about me? Do they reflect the love of God? Do they bring Him the glory? How about in your life? What do your actions say about you?
Maybe the saying 'think before you speak,' should be 'think before you act.'
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