When I was in kindergarten or first grade I heard the story of Florence Nightingale. From that day forward I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up....a nurse! I never wavered. It was never a question of which major to pick in college...there was no question, I was born to be a nurse!
Some of my earliest memories of my nursing passion was having a nurse's station for my younger siblings. As my very determined younger sister decided to teach herself how to ride her bike came lots of crashes. So, I saw an opportunity! I smuggled all of the bandages out of the bathroom outside to the front porch and set up shop!
I believe God plants dreams in our hearts. Based on His all surpassing knowledge, He created us and knows us well. Psalms 139:13,16 says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb....... All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." God planted another dream in my heart that I had forgotten about....
When I was 7 yrs old I remember one of my parents' friends asking me, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" My response, "A Nurse and a Pastor's wife!"As I said before the passion for nursing never changed but the Pastor's wife thing is not something I held tight to accomplishing. To be completely honest so much happened in the eleven years between that question and the day I met my husband that the last thing on Earth that I wanted was to be a Pastor's wife!! God never forgot the plans He had for me. When I met Jason the last thing either of us had planned was a life in ministry! Again God had other plans and I am SO thankful for that! Jason has been in ministry for almost 8 years and I would not trade it for the world!!
God planted another dream in my heart about 10 yrs ago. A dream that would use my gifts and talents as a nurse and my passion for the Love of Christ! I have dreamed about going on a medical mission trip! But, being that we have 4 kids that are so young I always thought that I would have to put that dream on the shelf until my kids were raised. The Dr. I work for goes on an annual mission trip to Haiti. This year the team going was short on nurses. About five weeks ago he invited me to go. I could not believe it! Something I have dreamed about for the past 10 years would now become a reality!
About two weeks ago my passport came in the mail the same day as my mission T-shirt. I remember holding them both in my hands staring down at them and the reality of it all hit me! Anxiety, excitement, joy, fear, and peace all at once! Along with all those emotions thankfulness too! If God had not given me such a supportive, loving, involved husband there is no way I could even consider this trip!
As the time draws near to the trip I am a little overwhelmed! I cannot believe this dream God has place in my heart 10 years ago is coming true! I cannot wait to use the nursing skills God has given me to help the Haitian people physically and share the Love God has given me to help them spiritually. To be an instrument of God! Shine His light! Not to leave out the fact that I am also a little unsure and nervous, not sure what to expect. But, I know this is God's plan for me and He will never leave or forsake me!
The theme for Women of Faith this year is Imagine with the theme verse....
"God can do anything, you know -- far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" Ephesians 3:20 (the Message)
I know there are other plans and dreams God has for me. I cannot wait to see what He has for me next!!
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