Things That Are Important To Me

-Actually, the reason that I am writing
about this is that I happened to mention something that is important to me,
at this point in time, to a nurse and she said that I should put it in my
blog. Of course, that got me thinking about other things that are important
right now in my mundane day-to-day life.

By far, the most important thing in my life now, and hopefully forever, is
God. And it is important to me that I have time to spend with Him,praying,
reading the Bible, worshiping, just talking with Him or enjoying His
presence. Right now, in Long-term Care, finding time to be alone with God is
absolutely no problem. The nurses are so busy that I don't see them that
often. Mostly when they are getting me up, putting me to bed or at
mealtimes. However, I know this having so much time to spend alone with God
won't last forever. Right now, it is hard for me to imagine but there will
come a time, once I am healed, that I know I won't have all the time for God
that I do right now. Thankfully, I have learned to communicate with God in
my mind at any time and in any place.

The thing that I had mentioned to the nurse was that, because there is
nothing else I can do, it is important to me to make my own decisions, no
matter how trivial. The nurses are really good about that. I pick my own
clothes and earrings-when I wear them. Our choices of food are extremely
limited. Still, though, the kitchen staff usually asks what I want to eat.
The nurses even give me a choice of the order I eat things on my plate. Once
in awhile, somebody does make a decision for me. That doesn't sit well with
me but it also doesn't happen often enough for me to get all bent out of
shape about.

Another thing that is important to me is to be talked to like an mature,
reasonably intelligent adult. This really hasn't been an issue of late but,
in past, I have had people speak loudly and slowly to me. I do dislike being
called such endearments like dear, honey, etc. It makes me feel like a
two-year-old, even though I know that is not at all the intent. I know it is
just me. Still, though, prefer to be called by my name.

One more thing that is important to me right now are my friends. I have some
truly wonderful friends. Because I can't do anything for myself, I have to
depend on friends to do a lot for me. Maybe it something in my room or
taking me somewhere. And I am so thankful for the friend who looks after my
money for me. That is a big load off my mind. But I also value my
"invisible" friends. By that I mean the ones that I don't see on a regular
basis but are taking time to pray for me. I know that nothing is more
important than prayer. I have to include the nurses in with my friends. Over
the years, I have had some really good friends among the nurses. I will give
an example of their friendship that still overwhelms me. A couple of times I
have had sleepovers with my "adopted " family and, on their own time, some
of the nurses came to put me to bed and some came in the morning to get me
up.

these are just a few of the things that are important to me right now in the
situation that I am in.