I have handed out countless numbers of these due to the generosity of our community and every time we get low and I start worrying that we can't do it anymore, in comes more. Prayers are answered in many ways. These items have always been well received and welcomed and for many a tear appears on their worried faces and a peace starts to follow and I see those blankets and shawls walking in the door repeatedly.
One experience that caught me off guard was when a patient said that they were atheists and didn't want the prayer item. I explained that they didn't have to believe but to know that someone cared enough for them to give this to them to support them in this journey. It was refused and as I started to walk away, I could here the patient and significant other discussing it and I was called back. I headed back to them still with the prayer shawl in hand and they then discussed the color and how it would go with their living room and various other aspects of the item that appeared totally irrelevant to me at the time. Finally, they chose to take the prayer shawl and then left as their appointment was over. I mulled over that for a couple of weeks and thought about many different aspects of that conversation and how it turned out and figured it was meant to be the way it ended up.
Several weeks after this encounter, that patient returned and throughout the next couple hours I continued to come in contact with the patient and their significant other. The last encounter I had was just the patient and I was called over and thanked profusely for the wonderful "Prayer Shawl". What did I learn from all of this? I guess my answer would be that you may not seek out support or even think you need it but in the end you will receive.
Yes, I have faith... too many times have I had similar instances. I shudder when people say that the higher power of what or who they believe in caused this catastrophe or another. I chose not to believe in that but in the fact that my faith will get me through and somewhere along this path, there will be people and instances to pick me up and guide me along the way whether or not I am fully aware of it.
The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow is not just a song for me...make it a great day! As always, S