A Good Day

I worked an 8-hour shift on Friday as a nursing assistant at Trinity Grove, Lutheran Services for the Aging's nursing home in Wilmington, NC. I am proud that I started as a certified nursing assistant and try to pull a shift once or twice a year to help keep me humble and to keep in touch with the real world. Trinity Grove didn't disappoint. I worked with two other CNAs on the rehab unit: constant, fast pace, lot of change. When I work as a CNA, I don't hide my day job, but I don't broadcast it either. Toward the end of the day one of the residents figured me out and ask to see me before I left. This resident was toward the end of a lengthy stay in rehab and on the way home. When I went down to visit, the person pulled out a handwritten list. Was it going to be good or bad? The resident proceeded to share the following list: * love the neighborhood design of the building * room laid out well and wonderfully decorated * raised gardens and manicured lawn easy on the eyes * love the children's outdoor playground * live plants are great, fake are sad * staff are top of the line! * rehab nursing assistants & nurses are kind, loving, professional * therapists are professional and tops * food is delicious * recreation therapy is great, way beyond bingo * Administrator John Frye is always out and about, not in his office, even delivers resident mail sometimes to get to know everyone * Environmental services keeps building spotless I laughed and told the resident that I was waiting on the but--things that were wrong. There were none. There were a few very good ideas on how to make the building more resident friendly when we build the next building, which was very helpful. We will continue to learn and serve even better in the future. My mission was accomplished. I got to live in the real world of our ministry, and get a good dose of humble for the work of the men and women who execute our mission every day to express God's love in Christ that those we serve!