Cure for the Common Life

I'm reading a really great book right now by Max Lucado called "Cure for the Common Life...living in your sweet spot". It's really great because it talks about something I'm really interested in investigating right now... which is who I am, how God made me, and how I can best serve Him while I'm here.

I am incredibly blessed to be one of those people knows their passion and has made it their vocation. My passion is helping women and I get to do that at one of the most important moments in a woman's life: while she is giving birth. The book encourages you to look back over your life to see what it is that you have consistently done well and loved to do. He says to "stand at the intersection of your affections and successes and find your uniqueness"p. 3. In my life I know that I have always loved to support people and to care for others. In University I was given the opportunity to take teacher's college during my 4th year at Brock in a concurrent education program. When I turned it down my career counselor thought I was crazy! People often ask me why I'm not pursuing midwifery considering my love of birth and helping birthing women. I have always known in my heart that I don't enjoy being the lead, I love to support people closely from the sidelines. I love the one on one suport I am able to give as and EA instead of the responsibility of teaching a whole class. I love the personal care that I can give to a couple while supporting them in their birth as their doula, rather than being the midwife with the health of mom and baby resting on my shoulders. I know where my sweet spot is, and I get to live in it for both of my jobs.

Of course being a mom is something I always loved to play at as a child. I was a big doll lover and would play endless hours of 'house' caring for my dolls. Nurturing my children is my greatest success in life (albeit the most tiresome and frustrating at times).

I am just so thankful that I know where I am supposed to be and I find a lot of fulfillment in all aspects of my life. I know that is unique and that I'm blessed to have that! Actually Joel and I are both very fortunate, because he also has a great passion for his work and he is great at it (Paramedic). I couldn't imagine him sitting at a desk all day. I know he enjoys the adrenaline rush, taking charge in an emergency situation and being able to care for people in need. I know he puts a lot of love into what he does, because he loves people.

One of the aspects of being a doula that amazes me the most is the compassion that I feel for the couples that I help in labour. I really feel that I get to be the hands of God in the delivery room as I comfort, help and encourage the couple throughout the strenuous work and pain of labour. It's almost a maternal love and desire to protect the couple that I feel in the delivery room. It's really quite amazing. I'll admit, after a birth I am usually completely exhausted physically, it can be a lot of work pressing as hard as I can on a woman's pelvis for counterpressure during and in-between contractions. But the prize at the end of the hard work is seeing a couple meet their newborn baby. A new little soul that has just entered the world. What could possibly be better than that?

Mel :)