A New Kind of Thanks
November 25, 2005
As the day of thanks draws to a close, I can’t help but think about some of the folks up at the hospital. I worked this morning, and while we did everything within our power to make today as special as possible for our patients, it was still a less than stellar Thanksgiving for most.
The kitchen served up a full-course Thanksgiving feast for both patients and staff and it appeared to be some of their best work ever (I chose to pass because I had to save myself for the feast prepared at home by my family). We had special visiting hours for friends and family to stop by… although few took advantage of them. Save for a couple of minutes spent taking care of required hospital activities, we pretty much let the patients decide what they wanted to do today. They played games… worked on craft projects… watched football, movies, and tv… and had a fairly relaxing day.
Since day one in the hospital, I’ve begun to appreciate the little things I can do at my own discretion. While many of the people I take care of on a daily basis spend only a few days with me, some do not. Some have been with us since my first day… and some arrived even before I did. I can’t imagine not being able to do my own thing… when I want to… and how I want to. I’d hate to give up those freedoms for a few days, let alone for weeks at a time. Or for an entire lifetime.
So on the day set aside to give thanks for all we have, I have a new understanding of just what that means. I have my family… my health… and most of all… my freedom. And for all of that, I am most thankful.
Posted in Personal, Series, Work
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November 21st, 2006 at 10:41 pm
[…] At this time last year I was giving thanks for freedoms that I had been reminded of while working at the hospital. There’s nothing like seeing people have so many freedoms stripped away to make you appreciate what you have. […]
June 16th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
“So on the day set aside to give thanks for all we have, I have a new understanding of just what that means. I have my family… my health… and most of all… my freedom. And for all of that, I am most thankful.”
Very well said, Derick.
June 17th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Thanks :)
This was one of those situations that I’ll never forget. It was the first time I’d ever had to work on a Thanksgiving… and it was the first time I’d ever really experienced anything other than the greeting card-style holiday.
It was a real eye-opener for me.