A second change with a difficult client

A second chance with a difficult client

I work at the drug and alcohol detox unit in a hospital in Melbourne. My job is to prepare meals for the clients.

One day, one of my colleagues came to tell me that a former client was going to come in for treatment in the next few days. This client had caused a lot of difficulty for me two years ago, and my co-worker remembered her and wanted to forewarn me.

The news disturbed me, and I began to think of ways to avoid an encounter. Perhaps I could take the day off or call in sick
so I wouldn’t have to see her.

That night at home, I shared this difficulty with my friends who also live the spirituality of unity and try to put the Gospel into practice. “Love your enemies” (Lk 6:27) came to mind and we prayed together for this person and this circumstance so that only love would permeate the atmosphere and welcome this client as a
totally new person.

The next morning, I again prayed for the strength to doubly love her and then began my day greeting everyone, beginning my work like I do everyday.

Later in the afternoon, the client arrived. When she came into the kitchen, I greeted her with a smile. She said “hello” in a low voice and quickly went outside for a smoke. I could sense that she didn’t really feel free.

That day another client was celebrating a birthday, and I thought it would be nice to bake a cake, which I left with the staff to present to her in the evening. The former client saw me with the cake and said, “That’s beautiful, Maria!” and then asked, “Are you going to make one just like that for my birthday, too?” Deep inside I was happy to have a chance to love her, too.

On the morning of her birthday she came to the kitchen to make herself some coffee, and I wished her happy birthday. “How did you know it’s my birthday?” she asked with real surprise, to which I answered, “You told me on the very first day you came in!” She laughed and thanked me adding, “Maria, I want to say I’m sorry for all the bad things I said about you the last time I was here. I really want to apologize. Will you forgive me?”

I thanked her and suggested that we put the past behind us. “Today is a special day for you because it’s your birthday. So let’s start again together!” She thanked me with a big smile. It was a beautiful moment that filled my heart with joy, and I could feel that she was free as well.

Before leaving work that afternoon, I gave the staff the cake I made for her with a card and a present and instructions to make a surprise celebration for her after dinner. The next day she came to the kitchen with a big smile on her face and thanked me for the surprise. She hadn’t celebrated her birthday for many years.

I thank God for having given me the opportunity to live the phrase, “Where there is no love, put love, and you will find love.”

— Maria Sekeme

All my grumbling

There are many little things that happen in a religious community, and things that others do or don’t do, or that they do differently from the way I would do them, tend to annoy me. At times I overlook them; other times I grumble under my breath.

“Why can’t they do things the right way? Why can’t dishes in the kitchen be put away where they belong? Why is the dish towel just folded and left there wet? Why are lights left on when no one is there?”

The Word of Life invited me to do something about this. It said, “Conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the Gospel of Christ” (Phil 1:27). I have tried to change my attitude, accepting that others do not have to do things the same way I would do them, and that I have to exercise patience and love them. So, I try to remind myself of Jesus’ presence and say, “Yes, you, Lord, are my only good.”

One example: we have had a problem with roaches coming up through the drain pipes. I have reminded the others to keep the drains closed when not in use. Usually when I find drains open I make loud comments about it. Now I calmly and simply close the drain without a word and go on about my business.

Little things in our personality differences have also been a cause for my grumbling. However, I am truly trying to see God’s love in all this and I’m striving to love everyone as he loves. I find that more and more I forget to grumble.
—Sr. B. M., Texas"