I spent the majority of my Labor Day weekend, not at my
cabin or enjoying the outdoors as originally planned, but splitting time
between my bed and the couch watching movies, reading books, and eating ice cream. My
nurse/designated ice cream scooper/lovely sister was able to join me for part
of the weekend watching said movies, scooping said ice cream and bringing me
whatever I needed while maintaining a safe distance. I was very
happy for her company. In between the sleeping, lounging, and eating ice cream,
and while my sister had other plans, I had some time to reflect on different
events of my life and felt compelled to share with you all part of the story about life
the year after I graduated college.
The
story actually starts a few months before graduation. I was stressed and taking
way too many credits than what was healthy for a person who should simply be
enjoying the last semester of college life. On top of that, I had no idea what
I was going to do once the semester was over. I knew that somewhere down the
line, I was going to go to physical therapy school, but had decided earlier
that year, it was not going to be right away. There was also the dilemma of
where to do the what I was going to do after graduation. Do I stay in Nashville
or go back home to the Twin Cities or try some new part of the country or
travel the world? I had a feeling that if I left Nashville at that time, I
wouldn’t likely return for grad school and part of me wasn’t ready to give up
on the city yet. College hadn’t been exactly what I anticipated, but I knew
that the city itself had more to offer.
Naturally,
I prayed for direction and guidance for God to direct my next steps. Turns out
He was going to answer my prayers right around Spring Break. I went on a road
trip through Florida with one of my friends who told me about an opportunity to
work as a nanny for a family in the Nashville area. I’ve always loved kids and
have worked with a wide variety of ages and personalities so I felt this job
was right up my alley. During the next couple weeks, I interviewed with the
family, met their 4 boys, and we began discussing start dates and availability.
At the final interview, the family said they would call to finalize the details
later in the week. By the time, the weekend rolled around and I still hadn’t heard
from them, I started to get concerned. I tried calling but it always went to
voicemail. Finally, I received a return call but it wasn’t exactly the call I
expected. Turns out, there was a miscommunication between the husband and wife
and one of them had already offered the job to someone else. I was so confused
because I clearly felt that this was what God wanted me to be a nanny during my
time off from school. Naturally, I went into panic mode. It was now weeks after
spring break and I had no idea what I was going to do after graduation. I liked
the idea of being a nanny so I decided to put my resume on a random nanny
website and said I was willing to go anywhere in the country. I spent a whole
day perfecting my profile and searching through potential families, wondering
if anyone would contact me. My room was a flurry of suitcases left half
unpacked from a weekend trip, papers scattered everywhere as I tried to think
of more things to add to the profile, and textbooks accumulating dust as I
neglected whatever homework was due that Monday. I’m sure my roommates thought
I was having a nervous break down.
At
this point in the story, looking back at what I know now, I picture God shaking His head, smiling, and thinking, “Just wait little girl,
at least give me a day to show you what great things I have planned for
you.” You see the next day, I
received a phone call from a friend of the family I’d interviewed with. She was
also looking for a nanny for her 2 daughters and lived in the Nashville area.
And had I found a position yet? We set up an interview at Starbucks and a
second interview at their home where I got to meet her husband and the girls.
Instantly, I knew this was where God wanted me to spend my year off of school.
What
a year it was. I spent my days making cooking videos, reality TV shows,
dressing up in costumes, and doing silly dances around their beautiful home.
The girls were wonderful, smart, fun, and funny, always keeping me on my toes.
We enjoyed mornings at the pool in the summer and games of tennis in the
afternoon once school started. Of all the fun activities we did during the day, I think my favorite time was getting ready for nap or bedtime. We would snuggle under the covers to read a story, say bedtime prayers, and sing lullaby songs. I had the privilege of traveling with them a
couple different times, seeing all the places that were special to their family
for one reason or another. There was a difference in age between the girls, but it
never appeared to be a problem. The oldest was just as willing to be silly and
play make-believe games with her younger sister as the youngest was to watch
movies or play board games with her older sister. During my time with them, I
always felt more like part of the family than the hired help. They shared so
much love and joy as a family that it overflowed to everyone they met. God knew
exactly what I needed during my time away from school.
I learned a lot about God’s unconditional love for us during
the time I spent with these girls. About how He chose us and has adopted us as
His own. During that year He placed a seed in my heart that I know will grow
one day grow regarding adoption.
It wasn’t that these girls were adopted or that I felt like I was their
mother, because they already had a wonderful mom. Instead I learned how to love
a child that God placed in my care that wasn’t my own. I learned that I would
do anything to show them that love and protection on the days they were driving
me nuts just as much as the days they were perfect angels. I learned that God was preparing me to
one day love that way again.
Even
though I don’t see the girls as often as I’d like, I still love them and pray
for them often. God knew I needed that family the year after graduation to
build up some of the insecurities I’d accumulated throughout my college career.
They were my away from home family. They in no way replaced the family I know
and love here in Minnesota, but God showed me that love isn’t something that is
finite and has to be divided when we start to love more people. Instead, love
multiplies with each person God places in our lives. We shouldn’t be afraid
that if we start to let more people experience our love it will detract from
the love we are able to give to those already experiencing it. God is love and
He will overflow to who ever He places in our lives, as long as we step out in
faith and allow ourselves to love, whoever it may be: an orphan down the street or halfway around the world, a difficult friend or fun loving co-worker, a sister who will give up her weekend to spend time with you or one who forgets your birthday, someone special you're too afraid let in on the secret or one who should know but may just need a reminder. Whoever it is, there's no time like the present to let your love multiply!
I’ll
leave you with one of God’s descriptions of love so you know what it looks like:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does
not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but
rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always perseveres.
Love never fails.” ~1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)
Have a blessed day (or month with how frequently I've been posting, sorry friends!)
