Working in
a nursing home business
office was often quite
stressful. My position
demanded that I provide
assistance not only to
twelve to fourteen
department managers and
150 employees, but to the
100 residents that lived
in the center. Often, I
would find myself feeling
somewhat "tapped
out" by the many
demands. So much that I
felt as though I was
losing who "I
was" in the shuffle.
One day I
felt as though my
patience was not what it
used to be. So, I prayed,
"Father
God...please...give me
patience." Well,
you've heard it said that
'you'd better watch what
you pray for because you
just might get it!".
Shortly
after I said that prayer,
we had a new resident
admitted to the facility.
Her name was
"Anna". Anna
came to us from New
Hampshire. She was about
4 1/2 feet tall, and had
grayish white hair that
she kept neatly combed.
She was suffering from
Alzheimers and needed
additional assistance in
her daily living. Anna's
speech and attire
reflected her most
"proper
upbringing". She
soon developed what I
refer to as a daily
routine.
Everyday
when Anna awoke, she
would get dressed. (with
her white sweater over
her dress), clutching her
black purse and go down
to have breakfast. After
she finished breakfast,
Anna would come to my
office and say -
"Hey Laadyyy! Excuse
me. Can you tell me what
time it is?" I would
look at the clock and
give her the time. Then
she would ask,
"What's the climate
like?" I would
proceed to give her the
current weather
conditions and any rain
or snow that may be in
the forecast. Then, Anna
would say, "When
does the next bus come
by?" Well.....Anna
wasn't really scheduled
to board any bus....but
she didn't know that
because of her
Alzheimers. So, my reply
would simply be -
"Anna,...I don't
know".
Anna would
turn towards the front
door, walk over and just
stand looking out the
glass. Then, she would
turn around, come back to
my office and ask the
same three questions she
had just asked 5 minutes
prior. This routine
occurred a minimum of
approximately 5 times
each day.
"Lord", I said,
"this is truly a
patience learning
experience."
In between
questions from Anna, I
successfully asked a few
of my own, which is how I
learned more about her.
She told me that she was
from New Hampshire. (Her
accent reflected it too!)
During times when Anna's
Alzheimers was not
significant we had
delightful conversations.
I soon learned of her
love for the Lord as
well. During one of our
talks together Anna and I
agreed that whichever one
of us got to heaven
before the other,...we
would be waiting at the
gates to meet the other
one.
One
particular day I went to
Anna's room to visit her.
On her dresser was a
framed 8x10 picture of an
absolutely beautiful
and stunning young woman.
Anna told me that it was
her, when she was
younger. I looked at her
and said, "Anna, you
are just so
beautiful!"
Sometime
after this conversation,
Anna passed away. She
left me with grand
memories. Grand memories
of a wonderful lady from
New Hampshire, ...grand
memories of one of the
humble learning
experiences in patience
that I will ever know.
One day, I will see Anna
again. She will be
waiting for me at the
gates of heaven.
I love you
Anna, and I can't wait to
see your face again, my
wonderful friend from New
Hampshire.
