What Julie Taught Us

Working in hospice, you meet some incredible people. People who, without even realizing it.. Leave a mark on you.

I want to tell you about someone I’ll call Julia.

From the moment you walked into her room, you felt it. This calm, warm energy. She was full of life, even in the face of everything she was going through.

And her smile.. She smiled with her whole face. Even after she had her dentures removed and felt self-conscious about it, that smile still lit up the room. I honestly don’t think anyone noticed anything but how beautiful and full of joy she was.

The first time I met her, she was listening to a podcast about the bible. And right away, she started sharing with me how her faith gave her strength and how she felt really blessed. Not in a grand, dramatic way… just thankful. For her life. For her family. For the little things.

She told me she wasn’t afraid. That she trusted in what came next. And it wasn’t about denial. She was very grounded. But there was this peace in her, and it stayed with me.

We started doing little bible studies together, just the two of us. She got so much joy from it, sharing versus that meant something to her, talking about them and just being present in the moment.

Her favorite verse was Isaiah 40:31. She could recite it by heart. “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles…” It gave her so much comfort.

One day, I made her a little sun catcher inspired by that verse. Her bed was right up against the window, and she loved when we’d crack it open so she could feel the breeze. I just wanted her to have something there. A little reflection of that strength and peace she carried.

Not every patient wants the same things. Some want quiet. Some want music. Some want to talk about their life, others want to hear about yours. For Julia, it was about her faith. So that’s where we met her.

She reminded me that the small things matter. A verse, a breeze, a smile. That even when life is winding down, there is still space for joy.

Every patient has a story. Thank you for letting us be part of theirs.