The Patience of a Social Worker

I have begun my service at a facility called the YCC.  It is a community center in downtown Ogden.   I volunteer four hours a week in the domestic violence shelter.  Last night was my fourth night there and It has really been an eye opening experience for me.  Due to confidentiality I cannot talk a lot about specifics, but I can say that people who pursue and continue in Social Work are true Angels on Earth.

Currently I feel a little useless. I don't really know what I can or cannot do or say. I need to realize that it comes with time.  I try to help in the ways I know how.  They had an old copy of a spreadsheet that the electronic copy had long since disappeared. I created a new one, but that is so small compared to the needs of the shelter and the people there. 

Last night I cleaned the toy box.  I was able to organize the playroom a little- it makes time go a little faster when I am not just sitting waiting for the phone to ring. Also, that is something that I know is really hard to mess up!

As I listen to the individuals there and hear snippets of what brought them in, I am deeply touched and humbled and I realize that I could not do this for a full time job.  4 hours weekly is enough to drain my positive energy and occasionally make me feel a bit of despair.  I don't know how the individuals who work this day in and day out- who have to listen to the in depth details of the horrors in the lives of others- how they can make it, and still be kind, honest and generous people.   They also show kindness and are able to take the time to teach these people some skills that they can use going forward.  I admire their abilities to exercise patience and love on behalf of another person, and perhaps, create more beauty in the lives they serve.

I was not blessed with patience and I struggle to understand sometimes where others are coming from.  I am learning that there is a phenomenal amount of patience and genuine charity that goes into social work, and one day, perhaps one day I will have the patience of a Social Worker.