Blessings

Every day while I wait for the bus to come in the morning, there’s a man standing at the corner of the street. He holds a cardboard sign with something written on it. People at the stoplight sometimes hand cash through their windows. I don’t know what his sign says, but every time I see him, I think to myself: I am blessed. But yet I also think to myself: what is his story? What does your sign say? Why are you standing on the corner every morning? Everyone has a story, a reason for doing what they do. And yet I really doubt that anyone has stopped to ask that man how he’s doing or if he’s okay. And maybe he is…but shouldn’t he feel blessed too?

So what does blessed me for me this week?

It means…

-interacting with people at work who make me smile and laugh….a lot

-getting a taste of crisp fall weather mixed with some warm sunshine

-having fun at the bowling alley

-painting pottery and picking raspberries

-feeling appreciated when someone lights up when they see you

-seeing God in those people around you and in His beautiful creation

This past week was good. I worked mostly day shifts in the adult program this week and I think I like working with the adults the best so far. They have a lower energy level than the kids and for some reason I just like working with them better. Which is surprising since I have wanted to work with kids since I was in high school, but that’s what experiencing new things is all about right? Finding different passions and discovering new realities. This job is so out of the ordinary and it encompasses so much. I met with one of the therapeutic staff earlier this week and it was great to get a glimpse of the work that is beyond all the “fun”. Each participant has a treatment plan, which is implemented in order to set goals and expectations, as well as make changes in the person’s behavior, etc. Each person is unique and has different needs that are catered to by the staff. Throughout the day, staff pay close attention to their assigned participant’s initiation of conversation, eye contact, involvement, and fulfillment of expectations that have been set. This is what is later documented on for funding purposes. Funding is whole different bowl of cherries. There are a lot of stipulations that come with Medicare and Comprehensive Services, as well as maintaining child licensure and HIPAA codes. But I won’t bore you with the details of that.

Sometime it feels like I’m not really using all my Social Work skills, but then I realize that I probably am without noticing it. I am constantly using interpersonal skills as well as meeting people where they are. If you don’t meet someone at their level, you’ll never be able to fully help them. You also have to use creativity in how you approach a situation and I am constantly using positive thinking and motivation to get others and myself through the day. The job definitely is teaching me a good dose of patience. Most of the activities involve the participants doing and the instructors helping. So that requires waiting, driving, waiting, instructing, changing, waiting- you get the point. The job also requires putting yourself out there. There is no time to be selfish- it’s about others.

Something I’ve been thinking about lately is: what would I be like if I wasn’t a Christian? Because at work I am constantly asked what a Mennonite is and our beliefs. And it gets me thinking about the salvation of my co-workers and the lives they lead. I’ve grown up semi-sheltered in that I’ve never really had friends who weren’t Christian or Mennonite. I went to a private, Christian high school and then a small Mennonite college. We tend to gravitate towards people who are like us, so I guess that’s what my problem is. I need to branch out a little more and understand others. But I’ve been thinking about what makes me different or how do I stand out from my co-workers? How am I being Christ-like? What are my actions or words? Lord, let me be a light. Let my thoughts, deeds, and words reflect your perfect love, patience, and kindness. I hope that people are able to see you through me and I can perhaps make a small difference in their lives.

Romans 8:10

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

*His Spirit lives in me and will emulate into other areas of my life*