Recently I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with Miss Barbara who has been lifeguarding for our camps for many years. We see each other almost daily during camp season but usually only have time for little more than a casual, “Hi, how are you today?” or “Good morning, good to see you.”
On this particular day we both had the chance to spend a little time together. I asked her how camp had been going and then I went a little deeper and ask her what it meant to be surrounded by so many special and unique children.
She spoke with great passion about how much she loved the children and what an honor it was to be able to be a part of their lives. She shared with me about one of the campers of the current camp and how hard he had worked to get to advance from a red to a yellow swim band. She had taken the time to call the camp director so that the boy could be recognized for his accomplishment among his peers and counselors. Praise; something so small that makes all of us feel so big!
Over the years she has witnessed the struggles that so many of the campers experience and she has an eye for what drives them to carry on. Moments that takes your breath away.
One such moment was at the pool last summer. She said that when the young camper arrived at the pool she could tell she had a prosthetic leg. The young lady walked over to the side of the pool, sat down, removed the leg and handed it off to someone. “That was so moving but what actually took my breath away was when she reached up and removed her wig, exposing a bald head.” She said, “I literally gasp in amazement of her courage.”
Did she look around to see who was watching? No. Did she even care? Not today. This is her special place on this earth and she could be herself. Scars, no scars, hair, no hair, it doesn’t matter.
Miss Barbara said, “That was the day that I really, got it!”
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