In my intro a year ago, I shared that I am a retired Registered Nurse. I have been thankful for becoming an RN many times since graduation in 1967. I have loved every job and the knowledge was so helpful in caring for family through the years including raising our three children and helping out with our four grandchildren.
I started out rotating between Pediatrics ICU and Pediatrics Isolation (for infectious diseases) back in the day. I don’t remember how long I was there, maybe three years when a pediatrician asked me to be his office nurse. That sounded good because it meant not having to work nights, weekends and holidays. So, I said yes. I worked there for many years, taking time off between the birth of our children but always going back. The doctor was great to work for and with, and a wonderful receptionist; we were like family. But…there is always that word, right? However, I began to think I wanted to experience other nursing positions before my career came to an end. My mom was a nurse and I remember her different positions and after all, this career choice offers many opportunities.
I prayed about it often, should I leave, how do I leave this wonderful job and people I work with, why should I? The thought of a different job was always in the back of mind. But I never did anything about it. I was sure I was driving God nuts with the same prayer – it must have gone on for five years.
Then the hymn, “Trust and Obey,” popped into my head one day. We hadn’t sung it in church in forever. It kept playing over and over in my head at the oddest times. Why?? Now it was my turn to be driven nuts. 😊 I don’t remember how long this went on. But I do remember one night praying about it once again, and telling God you are going to have to hit me in the head with a 2 x 4, because I don’t know what to do.
The next morning, I was driving to work and there it was. God not only hit me with a 2 x 4 but He used a billboard. On the side of the highway was a huge billboard that said, “Trust in the Lord for new beginnings.” I will never forget it. Oh my gosh…how long has that been there? I thought of the hymn and the billboard on the rest of the way to work. By the time I got to the office I knew what I had to do.
After the doctor arrived, I gave him time to get his jacket off and then went into his office and gave him my resignation. I had no idea what was next. But what a relief to have made the decision with a little nudge from God. I went home that night and shared the news with my husband. You can imagine his surprise. It wasn’t long before I found my next job which was a stepping stone for what came after that…. another God Nudge.
God Nudges are there all the time…sometimes it just takes a while to put all the pieces together. God doesn’t give up on us, ever. Sometimes it takes a billboard for us to get it. Sometimes we have to go far enough forward to look back and see those special God Nudges in our lives. I bet if you take sometime to look back you will see the God Nudges in your life.