Sometimes, it is hard to ignore the little signs that God is behind everything. Take for example, on Monday morning, I woke up and was reluctant to bring my gift to the hospital. That’s why I intentionally blog it the day before because I know I am most likely to change my mind.
I opened the newspaper and found the obituary section. My heart sank because the person I met briefly, whom I promised to meet again on Monday, has died. He certainly looks different when he was healthy. So handsome, so young and so full of promise. He is only 31 years old with a four year son. How tragic! May he rest in peace and I really hoped that he managed to talk for the last time with his family before he passed on, instead of being withdrawn.
Since such a huge reminder was there in the paper, I dressed up and went to the hospital. I was so nervous about what to tell the nun. I do not know how to open my mouth to tell her that I am too sick to do my pastoral care. She will definitely think I am shirking responsibilities, preferring to stay home to enjoy welcoming Christmas. I am such a timid person, I tend to think of ‘what will they think of me’ more than anything.
But like I said, God has a wicked sense of humour. I took the flight of stairs, open the door and there standing near the lift is the nun. She is normally on the private floor and if I want to talk to her, I usually have to intercom her. But through perfect timing, she was at the second floor. So, I told her the truth. I am having a bad cold and cough, I cannot come for the rest of the week. Seeing me personally, with my dried, pale lips and stuffed nose and all, is more convincing, eh?
I told her I brought a cake for the nurses and she asked me to pass it to the head nurse. And perfect timing again, the head nurse came down from another floor too. So, my deed is done. I get the leave I needed, I can rest at home for the whole week without looking at death, pain, suffering. We gave each other a hug and exchange our Christmas wishes. She thanked me for the help, I thanked her for the guidance she gave me.
I did wish I can just pop by a couple of patients’ rooms but my germs will be dangerous to them. So, with a silent wish that they stay healthy, I left the hospital.
Thank God for the perfect timing or else the worry wart in me will be restless for the whole week.
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