How your experiences can change a life forever

There are people who come into our lives who can make a huge difference in shaping us forever.  There's been many people who have made me stop and think and tuck the gem of the experience in my head and heart for the rest of my life.  These two women I'm writing about today shaped my life in a way that I'll never be the same again and because of situations in our life right now, they have surfaced again recently. 

The first lady was my very first patient when I became a new LPN.  She was a beautiful, stately woman who was aptly named Blanche.  She was a spinster who ran the local Loaves and Fishes food bank/shelter in Red Deer where we lived.  Since I only had one patient to start with, I lots of time to visit with her as we went about her care.  She had bowel cancer and had just had a major surgery to remove it, so was my patient for many days.  When she would be sleeping, a friend of hers would come and sit with her and just hold her hand.  The friend then would tell me about this amazing lady.  Blanche had worked tirelessly at the shelter for 30+ years, knitting 300 pairs of mittens for children in need EACH WINTER!  But the most amazing to me was her belief that, "No one should have to die alone."  She had sat by the bedside of countless homeless people around the clock while they were on their deathbed.  She sat with them and comforted them and also made sure that they were ready to meet their Maker.  She held their hand and let them know that someone cared.  When it came time for her to die, this one friend was the only person who was there for her (and she returned the favor by sitting with her around the clock until she passed away peacefully months later).

This experience has made me wish to do the same for others, and reach out in compassion for those in their end days and look for ways to comfort, bring peace (only through Jesus Christ) to those whose days are nearing the end.  Someday after the kids are grown I hope I can be there for dying people once again.

The other woman was a lady who swam at the YMCA back when I was a lifeguard when I was 19.  She came in every week with her client (a paralyzed man) and because the pool was rather empty at that time, I had lots of time to visit with our patrons.  One day the subject of abortion somehow came up, and she told me that she had had one over 20 years before.  She and her husband had 4 children and when she became pregnant again; her husband and her mother-in-law convinced her that they couldn't afford another baby and that abortion was the best (only) option.  She was weak, tired and vulnerable and unable to withstand their persisting and eventually had an abortion against her better judgement.  She had regretted it ever since.  She told me that she thought about that baby every.single.day. for over 20 years, feeling guilty and full of regret.  She encouraged me that if I ever was in that situation, to listen to my own body, my heart and not the "advice" of anyone else.  She said to go and find people that will support you, no matter what it takes to find them.

It's been 20 years since I met both of these ladies, but I know there was a reason that their lessons have stuck with me this long.  They're important.  They're valuable.  They're worth sharing. 

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

How can your own experiences help other heal, avoid the same mistakes you did or promote awareness in your own unique way?