Someone I truly admire

I have to admit it.  There are times that I look at people in their early 20's and wonder "WTF! These are the people who are going to run this world in 40 or 50 years?".  With some of them, the thought has me terrified!!!

Not all them, of course.  Keep in mind, I am slightly prejudiced.  I feel quite comfortable with the thought of my nephews and nieces running the world...or at least, running my world in 40 or 50 years.  I can't say that about many 20 somethings.

I have recently found out about another 20 something that I have no problem with the thought she may someday run the "world".  It is the oldest daughter of one of my dearest friends.  She is a nurse in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  She spends her days caring for the tiniest, most fragile of humans.  She freely gives her heart to her little patients, watching over their every need.  She learns to know those children better than their mothers because of her close contact with them for 10, 12 hours a day.

When her mom posted this video for me to watch on Saturday, all I could do was cry as the images flickered in front of me.  Such small hands and feet...such sweet, precious lives...touched and made better only because a NICU nurse was there to make sure of it.  This is what her beautiful daughter does for living.

It would not be possible for me to do what this amazing young woman does in her chosen profession.  I would lose my heart.  My soul would be shattered with the loss of even one of those tiny babes.  I would not recover.  Yet this wonderful young person, everyday, devotes herself to one of the thousands of premature babies born.  I can only think of her with absolute awe and wonder.

The strength of character, the immense volume of heart that it takes to allow yourself to be open to all of the joy and the pain as these little ones thrive or die. I cannot begin to imagine what it must take to be able to walk into her department each day.  I admire her!  I think she is a most wonderful human being.

If I could know that in the future, the world would be run by people like her, I would have no fear for what would become of me in the winter of my life.  My darling friend has every reason and every right to be supremely proud of the young woman she and her husband raised.  If this girl were my daughter, I would brag to anyone who would listen of how she is such a fabulous person.

My 'sista', you and hubby did something very right.  Be proud J.  I have never met her, but I hope someday I will.  I want to be able to tell her in person what I think of her dedication and love for the smallest of us.  She is remarkable!