Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1504291
18 | WheelsOfGrace.com | #68 When was the last time you told a stranger you loved them? Not that Christ loves them but that 'you' love them… a complete stranger. I am a volunteer paramedic and am fortunate to meet strangers on every 'call for help' that my ambulance receives. But as a professional I am trained to tend to their wound or illness, do it with kindness and diligent care, and then hand them over to the doctors at the Emergency Department when the ride is through. I would never be unprofessional enough to tell a patient that I loved them…except for one very special occasion which taught me a life lesson I will carry with me the rest of my life. Many EMS 'calls' are very routine and not life threatening, even most car accidents. On one particularly cold and snowy November night my crew received a call for a "vehicle off the road with potential injuries to two individuals". I will never forget what I saw when we approached the scene. The car was indeed off the road but inside there were a father and son fighting each other, physically throwing punches at one another. Although I had seen many strange things in my 25-year EMS career this was a first. Obviously, we were unable to get near the patients while they were fighting because the first rule is to always ensure your own and your crew's safety. But then the situation became even more bizarre. The State Trooper on scene gave me (and some husky firemen) permission to drag both patients, who were still fighting, out of the car to get them separated from one another. Thankfully we were successful, without incurring any injuries ourselves, and quickly strapped the younger of the two men to the stretcher, so he couldn't take a swing at any of us 'care givers', which he was attempting to do. As we were carrying him from the ditch, where his quite dented car remained, I was nearest his head and listened to the foul words of anger he had towards his father, towards all of us, and towards life in general. I made a typical comment paramedics make to patients at times like this "you are going to be OK" to which he replied, "why do you even care?" And then I will never forget what came out of my mouth. I said, "because I love you". I cannot take credit for uttering these words because this is not something I would say as a professional paramedic and especially not to someone that is swearing at me and wishing me harm. I think I was as shocked at saying this as he was hearing it but immediately his anger and hostility ceased, and his tone changed, and we began to talk, and I was able to be his care giver on the road to the emergency room. I credit the Holy Spirit for using my voice to share a special message. I learned one of the biggest lessons of my life that night. I have a gift to give others, even strangers, that can offer them light in their darkness, hope in their desperation, and a joy they may have never experienced before… love. When God wants someone to know that they are loved he will use you to do it… if… you are willing to set aside your professionalism, your pride, your fear, or whatever stands in your way of telling a stranger that you love them... yes you. There are many situations that cause people to seem unlovable, but you must get up close and SEE the person and not the situation, then you'll be able to open your heart so God can use it to show His love through your love. My patients now receive more than emergency medical care; they now know they are loved. Bob Sweet is also a member of Hellfighters, Upstate NY Unit. By Bob Sweet By Bob Sweet Loving The Unlovable… Up Close Loving The Unlovable… Up Close