I recently attended a medical conference in Norther Idaho. Those that organized the conference invited a guest speaker to come. The speaker was Chad Hymas. He was a remarkable speaker and had the entire audience, a room full of physicians and their spouses, in the palm of his hand. At one point, he asked two of the physicians to step up to volunteer. They were both leaders in their field. He asked each of them to get a bottle of water and to take a drink. He then asked them to do the same but without using their hands. Of course they got down on their knees and twisted off the cap with their teeth, spit out the cap and had a drink. It was hard to watch them go through the process. After they were done we were all chastised by the speaker. You see, he is a quadriplegic and his only rule was to get drink without using his hands. He did not say no one else in the audience could not help them but when none of us got up he chastised us for not giving them a drink. His theme of his talk was that it is not about me, it is about them. Putting others needs before ours. It was an awesome talk. I loved it. It reminded me of someone, my mother.
My mother, for whom this blog is dedicated, has always put others needs in front of her own. After successfully obtaining her nursing degree, she spent 30-40 years raising her children out of the home. She was always there at the crossroads for each of us. She has, however, used her nursing skills to help so many people throughout the various neighborhoods in which she lived. She has helped them physically when they have been ill, spiritually when down and mentally when discouraged. I can remember going with her on one of these trips. Our neighbors grandmother was very ill and she called us during the middle of the day. She could barely put her words together. My mom dropped all she was doing and jumped in the car. I went with her having just finished my first year of medical school. We found this woman completely delirious with a very high blood pressure. My mom called 911 and paramedics arrived quickly. She gave them a report and they took over. When we were leaving one of them stopped my mom and asked, "Excuse me, but haven't I seen you before?" My mother denied not recognizing the man. But then he remembered and just one week prior she had responded before them to another call within the neighborhood prior the paramedics. I guess people had Mom dialed in speed dial in the number one spot followed by 911 in the number 2 spot.
My mom has always been willing to talk to you and to cheer you up. She knows those around her so well that she can always sustain an interesting conversation with them and make them laugh. She has the right thing to say to connect with others especially the youth. She helped so many youth stay strong the gospel during their vulnerable adolescent years. Mom was there for them and put their needs in front of her own. Another story that stands out is when she would teach early morning seminary she would have to arrive at the building at 6 am to open it up. On someone's birthday, she would buy everyone doughnuts and have to leave even earlier to pick up the doughnuts. Some of the students had particular flavors they liked and she would special order these. One particular morning, my mom approached the building, still dark and a drunk man approached her with a knife. He threatened her. My mom was terrified but she also recognized him from the neighborhood. She called him by name and told him to turn over the knife and go home. The man did just that mainly because he was stunned that she knew him and then she quickly locked herself in the building and called the authorities so that the students who would be coming would be safe. She then proceeded to teach that morning as if nothing had ever happened. My mother was so brave and once again putting the needs even when her life was threatened, before her own needs.
Mom thank you for that great example all my life including now. You continue to put others before yourself and we all benefit. Love Borks
