I mean it was just plain, no other word can work, lousy. Right after morning session I found out I have lice! This gave me a terrible-awful-no good-very bad-anxious pain in my stomach. “Lice?!” that makes me feel like the dirty kid at summer camp. Seriously, I was nervous about what to do, the money it would cost and the real kicker was that I’d have to rely on others!
Right from the start I got advice. There were currently two others with lice and I went straight to them for help. Both were reassuring instead of condemning. I got the empty boxes to take to the Farmacie and walked immediately there. Another girl willingly came with me….though I’m sure she had better things planned (she had already been on lice-patrol for 3 days with the 2 other girls). Marie is an angel, like someone put it, “the Florence Nightingale of lice!” Having shelled out the money for over the counter lice medication I really needed a joyful, upbeat, its all worth it attitude, and she provided that and so much more. When we returned to the hotel I had to ask the front desk to explain how to use the products! It was a little shaming.
We got right to it: orange box treatment for 40min-1hour. Comb. Spray treatment for 15 minutes. Pick. Shampoo. Rinse. Pick….Pick….
Finally, I decided to just go for it- I cut my hair! It would,after all, make it easier.
Jenna, my new teammate and friend, graciously accepted the job of stylist. Please know that while I trust her, I am not often a hasty decision maker. No, ususally I am just the opposite-stricken with paralysis by analysis. There wasn’t any time for such indecision…only action. I made the decision to cut my long locks. It was a little tragic since my hair grown to the longest its ever been!
Oh well, it will grow back and it will be beautiful and healthy hair.
There is a lesson in all of this; I believe God knows each step I will take and has a purpose for each event in my life. I’m taking this Lousy Situation and learning from it: Life can’t be survived alone. We need others. We need community. I need to learn to rely on other people sometimes. I can’t beat this lice by myself, I literally have to ask others to serve me-a very uncomfortable thing for me. I love serving others, but my love language is certainly not to be served!
Thank you God for teaching me I can’t do everything on my own. I will rely on the hearts of others. You are the connection that brings us together. You are the spirit that sustains us. You are the reason that we serve.
