Dear
Friends,
One
of my good friends Dan Herman, is a hospice chaplain, and he recently shared a
devotional message for his team that was closely akin to my yesterday’s
Leadership Thought.
Dan
gave me permission to share his devotional message with you.
The
names of the people have been changed in order to respect their privacy
Dan
writes, “As chaplains, we are constantly receiving gifts from our patients,
families and caregivers. Last week I visited Linda and Jerry
Stroman. Linda was in her usual place, her recliner, in the living
room. Jerry was in his normal position, seated on the
couch. I was in my usual position, in a chair right next to
Linda.”
“As
I was sitting talking to Jerry and observing Linda, I noticed a pretty throw
quilt over Linda’s legs. It was brightly colored, which was
uplifting. As I looked more carefully, I saw that there were words
on the quilt, stretched across Linda’s lap. I first noticed below
the words a Bible citation, a verse from the Book of John. Then I
raised my eyes and read the words. ‘A new command I give
you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another.’ John13:34. Linda was literally and
figuratively covered by Jesus’ love.”
“I
commented to Jerry how much I liked the quilt and appreciated the Bible
verse. Jerry told me the quilt was a gift to Linda from
her caregiver Liz, who was in the kitchen. I called in to Liz to
tell her how much I appreciated the quilt.”
“What
a wonderful scenario!!!! Liz lovingly cares for Linda on a daily
basis and demonstrates her love through the gift of the quilt, carrying
out in a physical way the command of Jesus that we love one another.”
“And
this is what we are called to do as believers. We are called to love
one another.”
“Whether
we serve as a nurse, or social worker, or aide, or support staff or manager –
everything we do should be an expression of our love for each
other, for our patients, for our families, for our caregivers.”
“Notice
that Jesus says ‘As I have loved you…’”
“Jesus
sets the example, but He also provides the source. We do not
have an unending supply of love. Our ability to love one
another, to serve, in our own strength is limited.”
“I
pray that we can turn to our God, to our source, to enable us to love one
another, and to serve one another, and I give thanks that this is our
calling and our privilege.”
“As
the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13, ‘If I speak in the tongues of men
and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a
clanging cymbal. And if I have a faith that can move mountains, but
have not love, I am nothing.’”
Thanks,
Dan, for the loving care you provide your hospice patients, and for your words
that remind all of us of our calling as servants of our Master Servant.
Yours
in faith and friendship,
Tom
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