The Weight of Letting Go
Welcome to Sacred Musings, a space where I share reflections from the heart on love, life, caregiving, and the lessons that shape us into who we are. My hope is that these words bring comfort, perspective, and inspiration to anyone walking their own path of healing and growth.
Once, I sat with a woman who has carried independence like a badge of honor her entire life. She’s held onto her home, her autonomy, and her strength through the unforgiving tide of chronic illness. But on that day, she looked at me and finally admitted it was time, time to release the burden of doing it all alone, and allow others to care for her.
Her friend and I had been looking into facilities where she might receive the support she deserves. The reality of transition is never easy. But in her eyes, I saw both exhaustion and relief the quiet acceptance that it’s okay to lay the armor down.
What moved me most was her friend’s words: “She hasn’t smiled until your visit.”
It’s hard to explain what that means to a nurse. Nursing is not just about taking vitals and giving medications. It’s about meeting people in their most vulnerable seasons, and sometimes giving them permission to let go. On that day, amidst my own personal struggles, I was reminded that presence matters. A smile matters. Bearing witness matters.
I often say that I love nursing women; the strength, the dignity, the quiet courage they hold even when life feels like it’s unraveling. This woman reminded me of why I do what I do as we held one another in an embrace.
At the end of our time together, I left her tucked safely on her couch, her oxygen humming softly, her comfort kit ready, and her hospice binder within reach. That night she slept at home. The next day, a social worker helped her take the next step into a place where she would not be alone anymore.
And me? I carried her smile with me, as a reminder that even in the heaviness of life, what we do, what I do, still matters.
Sacred Musings is my space to reflect on life, love, and the spiritual lessons that come with being human. Thank you for walking this path with me.
