From the time my sister was in college until just a few years ago she has worked at various positions with Senior Citizens. She loves old people. (We always joke that I get the kids and she gets the old people.) She can hug someone over 100-years old (very gently) any time she wants!
But there was a time when the company she was working for was under lousy management and working there become stressful. Fortunately another position opened within the Christian university that we both attended. It paid more and offered a fresh environment with a challenge. She worked there for about 5 years, and though she enjoyed her job, she missed her old people. Always missed them.
We talked about it. After all these years, I think she finally realized that working with Seniors is what she was MADE to do. It was her Calling. She would only feel fulfilled in her work if she was working with old people. So when all the doors suddenly opened up for her to return to her old company as PART OF the management- to really do some good and affect some changes- she jumped at the opportunity. We all encouraged her to follow her calling.
This last week my sister wrote this on her Facebook page:
Two moving moments today at work:
1) Having a grey-haired, 60-something adult child tear-up while I was counseling him about getting though his parents’ move.2) Having an 80-something resident make ME tear-up. He lived at Augustana back when I worked there before and was one of my favs. He said to me, “Back in 2003, you did one of the kindest things that anyone has ever done for me. When we took a trip to Lakewood Cemetery, you offered to visit my wife’s grave with me. I’ve never forgotten that and it will be the last thing I think of before I close my eyes for the last time.” UGH! Tears!
I have thought many, many times about my purpose in life. Personally, I feel most fulfilled being a missionary. I feel that this was what I was MADE to be. My sister feels that working with Seniors is what she was MADE to do. Isn’t it a wonderful thing when you find the purpose and meaning for your life? I think there are a lot of people out there still working in jobs they don’t love and wondering if they missed their occupational calling in life. That’s sad.
Even though no one calls her a “Minister”, what my sister does IS ministry. She ministers to old people and to their families who are struggling with the transition that their loved ones are going through. She treats her job as sacred and sees it as a chance to share the love of God with people. And THAT is how you handle a Calling. When you KNOW that this is what God wants you to do with your life, you treat it as sacred.
Monkeys in My Bag 