REFUGE — Monday Motivational Meditation #362 — 2018-07-16

A true friend encourages us, comforts us, supports us like a big easy chair, offering us a safe refuge from the world.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr., 1940-

American author best known for his inspirational book, Life’s Little Instruction Book, which was a New York Times bestseller. Its sequel, Life’s Little Instruction Book: Volume 2 also made it to the same best seller list in 1993.

	Mackenzie Sudbeck rests her head on her cow, Rex, after brushing him on June 25, 2015 near Hartington, Nebraska.

REFUGE

I derive great satisfaction when my friends and even my patients find in me a place of refuge or escape from their fears and struggles. Being a safe place for others to go in times of trouble gives purpose to my life. I am happy to take on this calling.

As a caregiver, I must often look at those elements of the story that don’t always relate directly to a diagnosis, but none-the-less have an impact on the outcome. Sometimes my patients have some future event in which they desperately want to participate. That is their motivation, and I let it be mine as well. Sometimes, I have to help them stay realistic in the situation which is a way of offering protection.

Being a refuge and shelter for others requires that I acknowledge there are real dangers in life. I can’t run from my own fears. I want to remember when I am sheltering others, it is a way of also protecting myself. I believe that bonding with others and showing deep respect for their stories is a way to offer refuge to those stories that I hold near and dear.

Divine Refuge, in the mystery of life, protect me when I feel uncertain or afraid. In my efforts to be a refuge for others, keep me realistic about the ways I can support and help others. Guided by your grace, fill me with the awareness that I live and work under the shadow of your wings. AMEN.

ACTION: Do you think those who receive your care consider you a place of refuge? Why or why not? Who helped you create your approach to helping others? Can you reach out to them this week?

Calla Kessler

Nursing Heart is pleased to introduce you to Calla’s work. See more of her work at CallaKessler.com. We are excited to share her human connections with you.

This series is called, “Safety.” Once again this month’s themes are inspired by a book entitled Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan and Switzler. In health care we all know how important communication is to protect those to whom we offer care.

	Our team at Jardín de Amor with Principal Julio Garcia, and Jennifer Barcellos, a supporter and development coordinator for the school.

Nursing Heart Friends,

This past Thursday, our team was in Santa María de Jesús for our monthly diabetic and hypertensive clinic. Afterward, we walked up to Jardín de Amor to administer Albendezol along with Dr. Alexandra González Joya. The World Health Organization recommends the periodic “deworming” of children in developing countries. Here is a part of an article from their website.

Soil-transmitted helminths – which include roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale) – are among the most common causes of infection in people who live in the developing world. WHO estimates that over 270 million preschool children and over 600 million school-age children are living in areas where these parasites are intensively transmitted, and are in need of treatment and preventive interventions (1). To see the whole article click here.

During our 2017-2018 season, joined by various teams from the States, we visited 12 schools and administered Albendezol to over 900 students. We help the schools develop a reliable charting system so that the reception of medications like this and other services can be documented. It’s always a bit of a trick to help the schools file the charts in a reliable place so on our return in the following months we can retrieve them and pick up where we left off.

Peace,

Learn more about our work at nursingheart.org.

“When my path gets tough, I find refuge in the people in my life
who have so kindly and lovingly helped me become who I am.
This brings great comfort, and some extra courage to face what lies ahead.”

Sue Wheeler
Certified Coach and Facilitator
LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/sue-wheeler
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota