How I Invest in My Family When I'm on Call for 24 Hours
Invest in light of eternity, giving thanks to God for the family He has given you.
Being away from your family is tough, even for something essential like work.
My work in rural emergency medicine in northern Ontario, Canada, takes me away from home for 24-hour shifts, sometimes back-to-back. When I finally get a chance to sleep on shift, my fitful dreams are mostly of a busy waiting room and sick patients.
When I finally get home, I’m physically and often emotionally exhausted. This kind of experience isn’t unique to me. I have it easy compared to some who are away working for a week or more at a time.
Shift work, traveling, and long hours are the reality for many, often straining family life. The question becomes: How can you not just endure a difficult work schedule but also thrive in it?
Here are some methods I’ve found to be helpful, although I often fall short in actually putting them into practice.
