DAFFODILS

Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

(1 Thessalonians 5:14b)

Institutions are . . . well, institutions. That generally means you can’t expect their employees to respond in kind and gentle ways. They must adhere to government regulations and rules and protocols set up by their superiors, right?

My eighty-three-year-old sister Connie lives in a care facility. She’s lived there since 2004. Since that time, staff turnover has been staggering . . . and frustrating. After five executive directors coming and going, I gave up counting.

A long time ago, I had set up a special fund so Connie could go to the in-house beauty salon and have some weekly spending money. Every Friday Connie shows up at the bookkeeper’s office to collect her “allowance.” No one has to remind her it's Friday.

I made arrangements with the bookkeeper to send me a copy of Connie’s monthly statements via email. Near the end of last year, I didn’t receive any statements. Finally, a “new” bookkeeper sent me one and it showed almost double her usual amount on-hand, so I decided not to send a check for January. Apparently, her monthly expenses for hair appointments, etc. had not been posted up-to-date. That put her account in a minus position once expenses were posted.

In the meantime, another “new” bookkeeper Jay came on board. We finally connected a few weeks ago and he sent me back statements and an explanation of all the charges. For the month that was overdrawn, I noticed a deposit of $70. I asked Jay about it. Today he wrote me and said he had deposited the $70 because he didn’t have the heart to tell Connie she didn’t have any money. 

I wrote him back and thanked him for his kind, compassionate gesture on Connie’s behalf and gave him the authorization to get reimbursed. He wrote back and said he appreciated my comments, that it meant a lot to him.

Wow! How the world would change if everyone showed kindness to others like this young man.

I called Connie a half-hour ago. She said she was planning a party on Saturday and she asked me to bring some plants for the garden. I told her I’d bring some plants the next time I am in town. Then I asked her if she wanted a plant for her room, too. She said, “No, sweetie, I have daffodils.”

I’m so grateful she is in a safe place and being cared for by compassionate staff.