Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog....

Another day (and week) of work completed. Was more memorable than most. As a Case Manager @ a Medicaid MCO, most of my work is telephonic. I miss the person to person contact, but I do enjoy trying to help people change the things in their lives that will make them healthier and able to truly live a life. That gets real complicated when the member has both medical and psychiatric diagnoses. This member has such diagnoses. She has numerous serious medical problems for which she is not taking her medications, she is in a possible dangerous living situation, and she does not presently have an MD who is following all of her issues.

How did I find out about all of this? I called and called, and once I had her on the phone, I treated her like a REAL person. "How's your dog?" was the question that opened the relationship to find what was happening in her life. I will continue to try to get this member the help she needs on Monday. I hope to succeed, but it will take a lot of coordination and work.

***************************************************

Life Lessons........

As I thought over the things I had entered in the last post, I realized that I needed to clarify something: I have not only assigned responsibility where it belongs--both mine and the other members of my nuclear family--I have forgiven all those others as well.

Hate is very destructive. I did hate my step-father my freshman year @ Bama. I sought counseling, I sought ministerial assistance, I spoke with friends. I continued to be "eaten up" with the hatred. If I had come in contact with my step-father during that time, I would have picked up something and killed him.

Finally, I tried one more thing. I prayed differently. I had been praying about how I couldn't forgive him, but knew I had to. This time I prayed that God take all the responsibility for dealing with this man. I would not condemn him and left it completely in God's hands as to whether he was forgiven or not. I totally left it out of my hands and in His. I finally felt release and peace. I left it there. When he died many years later, I only felt sad. See, he died of a massive heart attack while in a drunken stupor with no one there to help him. Someone I had loved while growing up--and I did truly love the man--was dead and in the hands of an awesome God.

The lesson? No matter how badly you have been treated by someone, you need to forgive that person FOR YOUR OWN GOOD. I was miserable until I forgave my step-father. I have also forgiven my mother, sister, and brother for their parts in our unhealthy family happenings. That lesson has been expanded on as a wife and mother. Jesus said forgive as you have been forgiven. Do you think any person could ever "sin" against you as much as you have sinned against God? That's the standard. I know there is no way!!!

Until next time..........