Time off with pay.

Yesterday, I was frustrated. I wanted to be home. I wanted to cook my strawberry bread. I wanted to sleep late. I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I resented working through every holiday with a blaze of speed because hospitals have no holidays. Many times we are so busy it is difficult to survive. I trudged to work. I was feeling sorry for myself. I wanted to be home. As the day wore on I was made aware of the priviledge I had been given. I was busy. I was working hard. There was barely enough time to take a breath. I was doing the same thing I have done for 22 years....taking care of people in need. As I wiped off the self-righeous attitude I saw myself. I was ashamed. I had wanted two weeks off with pay, earlier. Now, I realized how blessed I am to be strong and healthy enough to come to work. How blessed I am to have a job. How blessed I am to live in such a wonderful town. How blessed I am to have a family. How thankful I am to be alive when my alarm clock goes off at such an early hour. As I sat in the car, waiting for my daughter to finish her piano lessons, the sun was dipping behind the church, the air unseasonably warm for December, and my legs so tired from standing all day.....I felt satisfied. All is well with my soul. I had the priviledge of taking care of sick people today and I am not sick. I am wonderfully exhausted, sleepy, still have presents to wrap and I have to cook supper. No...I think I'll give up that pity party about the holidays. I think I'll take some time off in the spring. I'll just take some hard work, for the holidays and be glad I can do it.