When it comes to serving others, it doesn’t always come at a convenient time. Often, it happens at the most inconvenient time, and it will catch you off guard. In my work experiences at the Sheriff’s Office, I would have to drop whatever task I was working on when my supervisors would request my attention on the fly, and I recall them calling these instances “blue light specials.” As soon as I heard my name being called out down the hall, I knew either I was in trouble, up for a blue light special, or both. My role as a caregiver to my parents was the same concept, except they weren’t called blue light specials. They were buckle up and be ready for anything because you never knew what you would face. I did my best to prepare for each day from morning to evening. I was all about preparation and trying to foresee what may or may not happen. Well, that didn’t always work so I had to learn to adapt and adjust.
Even though my role as a caregiver has since come to an end, I now find myself in a similar but different capacity with another special person in my life. It is not to the extent as it was with my parents. I don’t see myself in that role again because that was my calling to honor my father and mother in that role for that season, and I fulfilled my calling. This capacity, I speak of, is another way of serving: checking in on her, spending time with her, getting to know her once again, and being present with her. It’s an eye-opening experience because I have an overload of memories of her growing up, and I now see the person who is in front of me now and it is quite a change. I believe my time with my parents was, in a sense, preparing me for this journey. I recognize certain things I experienced with them and can identify and adjust accordingly in my interactions with her.
This morning, I was working when I received a message with a last-minute request to check on her. I thought it was an emergency, but I was assured it wasn’t urgent but needed to be done. My thoughts immediately went to this is not a convenient time, what if I wasn’t home, and on and on. When I arrived, I discovered the issue was resolved, and all was well. I immediately felt guilty for feeling the way I was because she was happy to see me even though we had just spent time together yesterday and she was in good spirits. While I was there, I discovered she took her medication and was eating. It may seem simple, but it carries so much more meaning to me and it feels good because I miss doing these simple things for mom and dad.
I have found that taking the focus off myself and helping others humbles me, brings a sense of peace to my spirit, and is a source of strength to help me deal with anything that I may be facing in my own life. I’ve learned to be ready because I never know when I’m going to be called up to do a blue light special.
The World of Dlo 