Amy Waters returned home last week and shared about how her faith and work intersect in her role at Mission Children’s Hospital in Asheville. It was a powerful reminder on a Sunday when we focused on the new life of the Spirit that has rested on each of us.

Amy in a hiking selfie…sooo Asheville!

Psalm 18: Verses 1-3 – “I Love You, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”

It’s kind of crazy being back up here again because last time I was up here, I was a high school senior telling stories about how my mom shoved me into my new sunday school class as a high school junior who had just moved to the area. How time flies because now I’ve graduated college and been working in my career for almost 3 years.

As some of you know, I am a Certified Child Life Specialist working at Mission Children’s Hospital in Asheville North Carolina. You can ask anyone that knows me, especially my parents because they hear it everyday, I absolutely love my job and know it is exactly what God had planned for my life. Basically what I do is I help assess children’s temperament while they are in a heart care setting and then I help them cope with their hospitalizations, illness and procedures with techniques such as medical play, therapeutic activities, and coping strategies that help to ensure they continue developing at their optimal level.

What some people don’t realize is even though I am in a facility that saves lives everyday, it can be emotionally draining to work in healthcare, especially when your focus is in pediatrics. That’s where my faith comes in because in the healthcare system religion is kept neutral. But how wonderful is our God that with his help my actions can speak louder than words? By going in every day with a smile, calm presence, and joyful spirit which of course I gain from MY ROCK, I’m able to show the children and families I work with HOPE and the LOVE of God! I am also able to go home at the end of my shifts, recharge my ‘life’ tank and go in almost everyday with the same energy and light as the day before. When others ask ” How are you able to work with children who are dying, hospitalized or involved in traumas?” I simply respond ” I woke up this morning with lungs full of breath, which means God has blessed me with another day to change the world and show people His grace.”

I remember my first bereavement in which I did hand prints for a couple who had just lost their 4 month old daughter. This couple had trouble getting pregnant and finally when they did their baby was born with a horrible illness. When I got the page, I gathered my materials and started walking over to the ICU and as I did a flood of emotions poured over me, consuming my whole body. I was nervous because of the circumstances, confused about why this little girl’s life ended so soon and I was scared I would say the wrong words to the family. I remember standing right outside the door for a couple of minutes before I went into the room, my head down praying, ” Lord, how am I going to do this? How am I going to go in this room and help this family do hand prints on their little girl? Am I truly in a profession, Lord, that allows me to use my spiritual gifts to bring those in the world who are far form you, closer to you?” And He answered because He hears all my prayers “I am with you always and I will never leave. Through happy, sad, or frustration times in your work…I am here for you. Take comfort in my presence.”

Psalm 18: Verses 1-3 – “I Love You, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”

AMEN