My First Day

Where do I begin??? I am first and foremost a pianist. I have played piano for over 50 years. I've been a music director at many churches, music directed at a community theatre and I am currently the accompanist at a local high school. So what possessed me to become a hospice volunteer? Well, actually, it was my husband. I had just been fired from a music director position at a local church. We just didn't see eye to eye on how a worship service should work. Anyway, I was really depressed about it. My husband sent me an email from work saying "you have so many talents that you have never explored". I got to thinking about that and praying. Maybe God wanted to use me in a new way.

I thought about becoming a chaplain but by the time I finished all the schooling I would be ready to retire. After talking to a friend she suggested being a Life Coach. So I started researching that. I've always been the one that friends come to when they are in grief. Whether its losing a parent, grandparent, job, home...they seem to seek me out. God has given me a heart of compassion. I'm just a natural comforter and encourager. I felt like God was calling me to help those in grief and help them to restore joy in their lives.

I will start my training to be a Christian Life Coach in the fall. But I wanted to do something now. A pastor friend of mine suggested volunteering at a local hospice house. So that is what I am doing.

My first day I was asked to sit with a lady for a few hours until her daughter could get there after work. So I went to the hospice house and that's where I met Mrs. B. She is a very frail and fragile lady who has severe dementia and is very hard to understand. My first thought was "what have I gotten myself into". I tried talking to her but it was so difficult. After about 2 hours of being with her Mrs. B's pastor come to visit her. He said she used to be a pastor's wife and that she sang in the choir and did lots of solos. Finally, something I might be able to connect with her on - music. After he left, I told her that I was a pianist and had been a music director at several churches. I told her that one of my favorite songs was "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". Mrs. B sat up straighter in her bed, opened her mouth and started to sing the song. I just couldn't believe it. Her was this little lady who could barely form words to speak singing in a strong beautiful alto voice. She knew every word and never missed a beat.

So I joined her in the song. When the song was over she looked at me, smiled and said "You have a lovely voice." "So do you", I responded. Then she was back to mumbling again.

They say that music uses a different part of the brain than speaking. For one minute, one very special minute we connected. God is so good!