One of the most common phrases I've heard in our training so far is "I just didn't know what to say." What are the right words, the best answers, to ease the pain and the questions?We are reminded, over and over, TO BE WITH. That most of the time our presence will be the only and best gift we can offer.
Our model is Emmanuel. GOD WITH US. Beautiful. Powerful. Unique in every room.
Andy, a summer intern, shared a moment he had had on call. He walked into a patient's room. A girl there had just found out her loved one had died. She was on the floor, in a heap, sobbing. Without thinking, Andy sat down on the floor next to her and put his arm around her. They sat without words for 30 minutes. Then they talked. Then Andy helped her up. Beautiful. Powerful. With.
In our evaluations yesterday I wrote this to Andy: The picture of you instinctively sitting on the floor with the grieving woman, and then helping her up is THE picture of the kind of chaplain I want to be.
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish. John 1:14 Message
I really like the picture of Andy, a role modeling moment for sure. This will make an awesome book. I read these to A&L while they sat in my morning room Sabbath. They said the same thing!
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