The Important Things

I've done a variety of things throughout my nursing career, but I have to say that working with young, troubled teenagers presents its own set of challenges. Coming from every walk of life, the common denominator is that they each have unique needs. Some have tried to meet them through drugs and alcohol, some through sex, while others cop the "tough guy" attitude, hoping against hope that someone will see through it to frightened kid underneath. Many of them play the same games lots of kids ~ and some adults ~ do, in a bid for significance. They can be manipulative and demanding, but more than anything, they are hurting and looking for love and genuine affection.

One evening recently, a young girl refused to take her medication. Rachel (not her real name) came up to the medication counter stating she did not want to take them, because they would make her sleepy. It was a dead giveaway; she was planning to run. She had been very troubled that day, and sure enough, a short time later she broke past the front desk and was out the door before anyone could stop her. It's not an unusual occurrence; quite a few try, and a lot are successful. But Rachel had a special place in my heart. Despite her bubbly, energetic personality, she was so obviously just a scared little girl.

Protocol demanding that the proper authorities be called, it wasn't until later that evening that I was able to walk the grounds, on the off chance that Rachel might still be close by and respond. It was cold and dark and she was far from home. Where could she possibly hope to go? My search revealed nothing, and I left with a heavy heart.

I was surprised to find the next day that Rachel was back, only a little scratched up and bruised for the experience. She explained how she had stayed out until it was quite dark, then scared, cold and with no place to sleep, finally came back. When she started to decline her meds again, I questioned her intentions.
"Oh no," she assured me, I'm not gonna run again." 

Glancing down at the paperwork I was working on, I replied "That makes me happy, since it wasn't fun traipsing through the woods around the facility looking for you!"
I glanced up just in time to see the look of utter amazement spread over her narrow face. She stood completely still for the space of several heartbeats, then whispered,
"Nurse Ladonna, you went looking for me?"
I held her eye for just a moment
"Of course, Rachel, why wouldn't I?"
"But you didn't tell me you did!"
Then setting the medication I was holding down and taking her hand, I softly replied, "What else would I do? You're important to me."

Then I realized with a jolt of clarity, isn't that exactly what God does for us? Every time we decide things must be better "out there", and decide we know best; every time we throw away His provision and go our own way; every time we get scared and bolt from the path He's laid out, His stubborn love (thank you, Kathy Troccoli!) doesn't just call to us, it doesn't berate us, it goes out looking for us! And even though He may not tell us everything He is doing, He never stops looking for us because....what else would He do? We're important to Him!