Patien(ce)t

The rail-thin old man leans forward, the ugly, faded patient gown falling off of one shoulder. His face curls up as he grimaces and forcefully states, "Git out o' my face. I'm walkin' out o' 'ere."

Gently laying her hand on his shoulder, praying for patience and clarity in the mind of her patient, the ICU nurse reminds the man of his recent surgery and the need to remain seated. Seeing that she is making headway and the man was calming down, she removes her hand and sits down on the bed across from his chair.

The nurse puts her best smile on and, adding a soft southern tone, she asks the patient if he would like a television brought into the room. She smiles and apologizes that they don't have a television and explains that the ICU doesn't usually have patients with entertainment needs. Still smiling, she waits for his reply.

The old man leans forward, and with just as much force as before, "I am tired o' yur voice." After this statement, he shuts his mouth in a firm, hard line.

The nurse takes a moment to take that comment in. Raising an eyebrow and reminding herself that he probably didn't mean it, she gets up still smiling and half-sarcastically states, "Well, that's the
easiest problem to solve!" And she walks out of the room to the desk behind the glass windows, praying he doesn't try to stand up or Houdini out of his restraints in the moments her back is turned.

She sits at the desk and takes a moment to breathe. Looking down at the notepads, charts and pens which lay scattered on the desk, she runs through her mind the events of the day. A trifle discouraged, she looks at the computer and finds this as the verse of the day:

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."

-Hebrews 6:10

The fog is lifted, the message of encouragement is received and, like a dove finding a resting place, her thoughts become still and peace is found.

The nurse smiles. Her Father was just waiting for her to look up, to see the kindness in His eyes.


***

Written back in 2007, when I was a Real Nurse. :)