Today I am reminded of Amy. She had been working with the company for 7 years when I joined them. She was one of my staff whose potentials I found worthy of promotion. So when an opportunity came, I promoted her to a supervisory position. She accepted it with much joy but months later she came to my office to share her anxieties about her new job. I shared with her tips on how to overcome these feelings and I could see her trying her best to apply them. She stopped coming and as months went on, I could see her performing to the delight of her immediate superiors.
Then one day after almost 5 years, she came asking me to transfer her to a lighter job because she felt pressured with the demands of having a new boss. I adviced her to allow adjustments to set in and she agreed. Months later, she came back and I could see that she was more anxious than her last visit. Her reason was still the same. So I called HR to look for a possible new assignment and informed her to come back to me after a week. She came back but didn't get to talk to me because I was on sick leave. When I got back two days later, I asked my secretary to call her in but was told that she didn't come to work that day. While having lunch, the Emergency Room staff called me to say that Amy was being resuscitated by the team because she was found by her eldest son hanging in her bedroom. After more than an hour, they declared her dead.
Up to this time, I can't help but ask myself, will she be dead if she was able to see me that day I asked her to come? I know that only God knows the answer but this question keeps popping into my mind whenever I think of her. Since Amy is celebrating her 5th death anniversary today I thought about it again. I decided to talk openly about it this time because I believe it can produce emotional release and even joy. This is what I call the "Ministry of Remembering."
Our chaplain once said, if a departed person comes to mind, don't put it off. PRAY, it may be the most important thing you do today. A mass will be said in her memory and I hope this will help in easing the burden.
