It's been a reflective week. One of my units at the hospital is the mental/behaviorial health unit and while I've known it was true, I realized again how many people struggle with the holiday season. We have more suicide ideation/attempts than normal and during my spirituality group discussion we talked about loss and grieving. This season is supposed to be filled with love and goodness and family and instead for so many it is a time of deep loneliness and aloneness.
Today the Sunday School lesson was all about Christ--the Messiah, the Anointed One--and how He came to bring good news to the poor; to comfort the brokenhearted; to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed; to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. (Isaiah 61: 1-3).
How I want to carry this message to those who are suffering such deep pain and who are in bondage. Every day I pray that my patients will see Christ in me and know they are loved and and never forsaken. Every day I pray that I will see Christ in my patients and that as I touch them I will remember that I touch Christ ("Inasmuch as you do it unto the least of these, you do it unto me.").
God bless you as you reach out to those whom you meet with the Good News of peace and joy and love.
Choose joy.
Donna
