You know when parents say time flies, but in the back of your head you are not really thinking it does. Well, it does. It feels like yesterday I was walking in the front door, wondering aimlessly for my desk. Three months later, I leave a place that taught me more than it will ever know.
Today, American Idol visited the Voice at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and it hit me this was my final event at this great place. From getting lost in the parking garage to seeing the smiles on kids' faces, the hospital showed me what life is all about.
You see in this place is a plethora of doctors and nurses who have one goal in mind. All they care about is being there for the child they are supposed to take care of. This selfless mindset is something that I think we all can learn from. They work long, tiring hours and see children in some terrible conditions, but they never stop striving to bring happiness back into a child's life.
The kids. I am so thankful I was able to spend some incredible moments with children who forever changed my life. There really is nothing like seeing a child who is suffering. It is not easy. Some parents are there day in and day out right by their child's side as they battle each day. These kids never give up though. Some days are worse than others, but they continue to smile and never take for granted each day in their life. The images of these kids I will take with me as I leave this place, and their determination to never give up is a characteristic I can only hope to have for the rest of my life.
To my colleagues, you have made this the best environment to work in. I never once felt like I was going to "work" because of the constant laughs, great times and encouraging nature each and every one of you had with me during my time. You took a chance with me and for that I am grateful to you. I have learned so much in such a short period of time and will take these skills with me the rest of my life.
I think the best two words that can wrap up my experience at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is thank you. Thank you for giving me experiences that I could never have imagined. Thank you for showing me what it is to work an environment that is uplifting and full of people who truly care about one another.
The final thank you goes out to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was this time last year that the first thoughts began of where do I see myself next summer. Little did I know, he knew the entire time. Through all the second-guessing, he never once waivered from his plan for me. He knew the amazing people I would get to meet and places I would get to go, but in the back of my mind it was so tough for me to trust him. A year later, now all I can do is smile and laugh at the times I doubted him. As this chapter comes to a close, this next year is going to be the end of a lot of things, but the same Father who knew exactly where I was going to be this summer will never go away.
As the quote says, "All good things must come to an end." Thank you Children's for making this the best summer of my life.
"We give praise and thanks to You, O God, we praise and give
thanks; Your wondrous works declare that Your Name is near and they who invoke
Your Name rehearse Your wonders." Psalm 75:1
