Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: CONTROL (02/18/21)
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TITLE: Snow in June | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dolores Stohler
02/20/21 -
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Shivering and shaking with fear, I awoke to a cold room, still in my hospital bed and still alive, thank God. Breathing heavily, I searched the bed for the call button with my right hand and found it under the covers. My left arm remained rigid in the sling I wore. A nurse appeared, looking weary behind her mask. “Yes?”, she inquired.
“I need pain medicine,” I replied, feeling sorry I'd bothered her.
She nodded her head. “I'd better turn up the thermostat, too. It's turned cold outside.”
Several minutes later the male nurse, Leo, entered the room and there was a smile in his voice as he said, “I have your medicine and after that I have a surprise for you.” His cheerfulness was contagious, as always, and I mentally thanked God for him, his positive attitude a ray of sunshine in the darkened room.
Leo's large form moved across the room, then he opened the blinds to reveal a semi-dark sky, snowflakes falling like tiny feathers dancing across the early dawn of a Colorado morning. I exclaimed with delight, “No way! It's June, too late in the year for snowfall.” A pain shot through my shoulder and I took the medicine while gazing at the snow outside.
“Well, you've been around for a while. You know that in Colorado anything is possible. I always laugh when they talk about global warming. The earth may be warming a bit but you and I know who is really in control.” He gave me a wink. Leo was a Christian, like I, so I knew who he meant.
“I know that God can do anything but, as for me, I'll have a hard time with this arm and shoulder once I'm back home. I live alone and right now I can't even get out of bed by myself, let alone shower and cook and do a million other things.” My voice must have sounded pitiful to this cheerful man.
“Don't you ever think like that,” he replied. “I know a paraplegic who lives alone and even drives his own car. You are always in control of your own destiny. When you make the right choices, you can overcome even in the worst circumstances. Never give up trying. Just refuse to accept what others proclaim impossible and you'll make it, my friend.” With a nod of his head he closed the blinds, turned and left the room. Feeling warmed and full of new purpose, I closed my eyes and drifted back to sleep.
Of course, I was able to return to normal after two weeks in rehab and a couple months of therapy sessions. The nightmares stopped but I'll always remember Leo and his encouraging attitude. Also, a black nurse who removed her mask to flash a bright smile and say goodbye as she left for the day. And there were other staff who took time to visit when I wasn't allowed family visits during the epidemic.
While we can't always control our circumstances, we can control how we treat others and a smile can do wonders. So can a flurry of snow on a cold summer's night!
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