She Did What She Could
"Celebrate with great joy." Nehemiah 8:12 (NIV)
It's official! Today is my last day as a UAB Hospital employee after 35 years of service. This roller coaster week has been filled with many emotions but, by far, the biggest one has been gratitude. Sunday night I was worried about making it through the week without some tears. My friends and family who know me well know that I don't like a lot of sentimental "going down memory lane" stuff. Even when my Daddy died, I didn't spend a lot of time looking at pictures and remembering the way things were. There's a place for that, of course, but I know myself well enough to realize that I function much better when I live in the present and look toward the future. I think having James Bruce has something to do with that. Spending a lot of time looking back requires a lot of emotional energy that I need for right now especially as he continues to have seizures.
With that in mind, I told my boss that I didn't want a 300 plus department wide reception in the Board Room. I just wanted our work group to have lunch on our floor. Everybody could bring a dish. I also didn't want to invite former colleagues, just Meredith and Bruce. Our sons have jobs and wouldn't be able to attend. I didn't want a video of 35 years of pictures and former co-workers. I just didn't want to make this a big deal. I had no idea that lunch for our work group would be turned into an executive chef catered luncheon in the Board Room for a group of fifty people. The flowers and food were fabulous as was the engraved Waterford vase that my coworkers presented me. I was so touched because they know how much I love flowers. We only went down memory lane a little bit and overall we laughed more than cried.
The one time I did tear up was when my boss told a few stories that began with: "Donna taught me to do what I can. I can't remember the exact verse but that's what I learned: Do what you can."
I had prepared a couple of notes, but I quickly ditched them and chose instead to begin my remarks with the words, "That is actually my life verse. It's found in Mark 14:8 when Jesus says, 'She did what she could.' I told my husband to put those words on my tombstone so that everyone who drives through Elmwood cemetery will know that I did what I could, but Bruce said "No, I'm gonna put "She tried and she died!" With that the whole room erupted in laughter, the mood was lightened, and we were done with the tears.
I mentioned in my closing remarks that several weeks ago I had written a "35 Gift List" of things for which I'm grateful: one for each year of my life as a UAB employee. I didn't bore them with the whole list, but mentioned the top two or three items. Later on, a couple of people asked if they could see my list and share it with others. My response was "Yes, you can see my list, but don't share it until I'm gone." Several young co-workers who are moms with small children stopped by my office to ask, "Where is that verse you mentioned?" One young 9 month very pregnant mom asked me, "Remember when you said that the name "Abigail" is in the Bible? Where can I find it? If this baby is a girl, we are naming her Abigail."
As I packed up my office Wednesday, I couldn't help but note the irony of the last couple of days. One of my main reasons for retiring is that I want to spend more time mentoring and investing in others' lives: my granddaughters, young moms' Bible study women, special needs moms, and those who will one day read the books I hope to write in this season of life. Yet over the course of two days as I heard the "I learned...You taught me...You showed me" I sensed that God had been using me, not just to do good work for UAB or to provide for my family, but to teach others some life lessons along the way. From homemade chicken salad and strawberry cake recipes to life verses and baby names, God somehow used all of it to influence others hopefully for their good and for His glory.
All of those thoughts came surprisingly together when one young mom stopped in and said, "I saw this at Monograms Plus (she knows it's my "go to" gift shop) and thought of you." I opened her gift and found a small paperweight that read "Celebrate with joy." Nehemiah 8:12 (NIV).
Christie's gift was a timely reminder that "eucharisteo"- the act of giving thanks- always precedes the miracle. God gives gifts of grace; we give thanks; and the result is joy. And so this morning as I write these words, gratitude once again fills my heart for God's good gifts of thoughtful co-workers, a good employer, finishing well, and the opportunity to turn the page and begin a new chapter in my life.
Grace, thanks, and joy- three good reasons to celebrate!
"They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness." Psalm 145:7 (NIV)