At the beginning of my shift I went to see my sickest patient.  When I left the room, his wife followed me outside with questions that led to her opening up to me.

I could see how she was suffering from many things and frustrated and disappointed with some of the attitudes and approach of some of the staff, nurses and doctors.

I tried to listen to her with love, but after a long time I found myself trying to get rid of her so I could get the rest of my work started.  I suggested different things she could do, but she said "no to each.  I realized I was not loving to the end, so I said in my heart, "Let me love you, Jesus, in her."

“He loved his own in the world, and He loved them to the end." (Jn 13:1)

So I listened with full attention.  Then she started crying expressing all her guilt of not staying with her husband at night.  I hugged her and she hugged me tightly for a long time. After she dried her tears, I asked if she would like a care conference for her husband, explaining that we could also call patient advocacy so she can share all her complaints. She was very pleased. The rest of the night she was in good spirits and was very helpful to me in the care of her husband.

When she went to bed I assured her that we would care for him and that she should go get sleep. I was happy to have loved to the end with God's grace.

Cancer nurse, Houston