A Gift Of A New Beginning

December 1st and we are at the beginning of the giving season. Walmart ads everywhere you look, charities that come calling, it's enough to drive you crazy! Fortunately, I believe the best gifts aren't the material ones, but ones that can change a life, be it yours or someone else's.

I was given such a gift about a month ago and it came straight from God! Granted, it came rather harshly but God knows sometimes I need that harshness to get my attention. I am talking about my recent surgery and how it gave me a major "do over".

Friday night, about a month ago, I was driving home from work. Although it was the start of a weekend, I wasn't happy. I was feeling very burned out and overwhelmed. I wasn't happy with my job, I was gaining, not losing weight and I was wondering if school and working full-time was really the route I should be going. I wasn't sure nursing is for me. I felt bored, frustrated and didn't know what to do! Little did I know that 48 hours later I would be in the ICU, facing emergency surgery.

As it turned out, the surgery cured the problems I had with my digestive system and I came home 12 pounds lighter. The hospital stay gave me a new-found appreciation for nursing given the amazing care they all provided me. My 3 week recovery and the boredom I had at home made me grateful to have a job to go to. I even have a do over for school as I had to drop out this semester but was able to get my classes at a campus 1/2 mile from my office starting in Spring.

I do feel I have a new lease on life. I was forced to stop and take a step back, look at my life and see that it isn't so bad. I am grateful for my blessings and consider the surgery one of them. It is amazing when you look back and see that God used something so scary for something good. It's awesome!