Years ago I worked as a nurse-aide in a catholic nursing home. The spiritual atmosphere and genuine caring of the staff and residents for each other made this one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had.
Bringing happiness into the lives of the elderly while they were “waiting for God” was one of my greatest talents. And many of my co-workers and “sisters” working along side of me admired this. A friend and co-worker and myself would make rounds every evening and visit with the sisters. Even though they would not have necessarily be our patients. Many times they would be waiting up for us, or would not go to sleep until we came to see them. We were often told stories of one sister who refused to go to bed on the days I was off.
Visiting with the sisters you really get to know them. How under those matching black habits were women with totally different personalities. They had the best educations. And an innocence about them hard to explain.
I had many humorous encounters and would like to share one with you.
One sister, extremely overweight, had been pretty much bedridden for a few years. She was a very proud person and dealt with the embarrassment of her condition by being a recluse. There were very few people she would allow into her room. When she first met you she would not speak but to give you directions, never looking you in the eyes. She chased out many who never returned.
Soon we had become somewhat friendly and she began to loosen up. We joked and kidded around much to others amazement. Her disposition began to change. She even let an elementary class into her room on nursing home day to show her their teddy bears.
One evening while my friend and I were making rounds we stopped in to see sister who now was one of our nightly visits. My friend left and I remained. The sister and I talked a while longer and I said goodbye. There was some comment made by me, I can’t remember what I said. But sister replied with, “and tomorrows my birthday.”
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