I have a client with a very sad case right now who suffers
from OCD that results in hoarding. She
convinces herself that there is writing on food wrappers and something of value
in the garbage bags she saves the wrappers in.
She can’t get rid of garbage without inspecting each piece under bright
lights and turning it back and forth several times. She called for my help when she was facing
eviction…again. I go for a couple hours
every week and help her let go of each piece.
Sometimes the smell hits me in the face as soon as I get to the door and
I always dread going a little bit. She
is a truly delightful, well-educated woman, devastated that she is unable to
overcome her mental issues and I just can’t refuse helping her.
Today we
had a real breakthrough and she let me do some of the assessing and pitching
myself, rather than just watch her do it.
It might not sound like much, but it was a huge deal! It dawned on me then that I was actually, almost, enjoying taking garbage out of
one bag, looking at it, turning it, and putting in the next bag to be taken to
the dumpster. So I said to her, “You
know, I’ve been working at another job in an attic all week and it is HOT. I’ve been running up and down stairs and
moving furniture and I am tired! I am
actually enjoying our time right now because I can sit here without breaking a
sweat and carry on a conversation with you.”
You would have thought she just won the lottery. The smile barely fit on her face and she was
beaming with joy. We had our most
productive day yet and she ended the day with high hopes. It is very unlikely she will avoid eviction
and I know I can’t carry the burden of that, but today, two souls had a good
day sorting trash together.
I don’t know
entirely why I felt compelled to share this story but I feel like someone who
needs an ounce of hope right now will somehow find it here. I started this business on a leap of faith that I
felt called to make, and sometimes second-guess myself, and sometimes want to quit. A lot of
times I get inundated with calls from people very much like this woman and then
I really want to quit! But today she
told me that she can see kindness and compassion in my eyes and that is why she
trusts me. I told her that is God’s love shining through me and then I remember that if He called me to this place then
He will give me the strength to give my best and to find beauty in even a
literally, garbage-filled day. Choose
joy today, regardless of your circumstances.
You won’t regret it.
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