Promises to keep...

By Sr. Therese MacDonald, O.L.M.
Summer 2001

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As the old song goes, “I was 16 going on 17, waiting for life to start.” At that time, I was facing one of its big decisions. What would I do with my future? My parents could afford to give me the security of one of three professions. Would I be a nurse, a teacher or a bookkeeper? I chose nursing. Within this choice I would serve my God for what proved to be nearly 50 years. As a nurse I also had the joys and challenges of the teacher as I taught young and not so young women how to care for the sick or prevent illness. Later, when this ministry became too much for me, I was invited to do the bookkeeping for my community. Working with dollars and cents also became a satisfying task in my declining years.

Now at 70 plus, my interactions have not changed so much. I don’t give the pills and listen to a doctor explain an illness to a patient. Now I take the pills and listen to the doctors explain my own diseases. I don’t teach hospital caregivers, but now they seem to learn from me. One of them told me I put them all in good humour on the days when I visit. As the feared cancer invades my bones I try to live and not to die. I was told by a friend that now I am succeeding in the most important apostolate of all—living.

Life is lovely, dark and deep
My youthful promises I keep
But still have miles to go before I sleep.

My motto:
The world grows better year by year
Because an OLM in her little sphere
Kneels to pray and welcomes all
No matter what her latest call.

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