Lessons Learned #1

For my last three posts of the summer, I think it is fitting to recap the invaluable lessons I have learned during my time at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. I have learned and been given so much through this opportunity that it is tough to see it wind down.

This past week had to be one of my favorite weeks of the summer. 95.5 FM and AM 750 News/Talk WSB Care-a-thon took place on Thursday and Friday. During the 37 hours, listeners helped raise more than $1.5 million to support the services and research at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. I do not know about you, but that number is mind-blowing to me. It is amazing to see, even in some difficult financial times, people come together in support of bringing hope to kids' lives.

There are so many countless stories during the coverage that I will never forget, but one small one really stuck out to me. A group of guys who worked together at an auto shop were greeted one morning by Scott Slade. In his hands, he held breakfast for the guys. He brought them the breakfast because they were one of the winners of the contest. Little did he know, the group of workers handed him a big stack of one-dollar bills. These guys did not have much, but each worker gave a little of what they had because they wanted to be a part of a place that saves the lives of children. What if we all lived our life with this perspective?

In an earlier post, I touched on the idea of control and how I struggle with trying to control every ounce of my life. This internship really has taught me about freedom from the beginning. It is amazing what the Lord can do through an individual who takes a step out of their comfort zone and takes a step forward.

Healthcare? Really? I knew nothing about healthcare. Check against me. A business setting? I had never been in a real business setting for more than a day. Another check against me. Not to mention I did not know anyone. Another check against me.

However, none of these things mattered. It was time for me to take a step outside of my boundaries and give my best to something I knew nothing about. You see the Lord takes our weaknesses and is glorified through them.

Yes, there is still so much to learn about healthcare. Yes, you can probably ask my colleagues that I am probably not the best in a business setting, but this summer I have seen firsthand how the Lord blesses us with the freedom to explore new things and areas of our life that we never think are possible.

During these 12 weeks, I have been able to work with some of the most talented people. I have been able to go to events and see things that I could have only dreamed of seeing. Looking back, this could only have been possible through the Lord who is loving enough to allow me to see firsthand what it means to live in freedom.

Phillpians 4:13 says it best: "I can do all things through him who gives me strength."