Lately I have found myself within the halls of hospitals and I must say, it’s not my favorite place to be. I’m not sure it’s anyone’s true joy to sit in waiting rooms or listen to the myriad of sounds in the corridors of a medical facility, however, these things do occur and must be managed.
In certain situations, I get a lot of reading done, which I DO like to do, though standing by waiting to speak to a medical person about someone who was rushed to an emergency room can be a bit wearisome. Yet, it was here where I found a touch of kindness in the midst of chaos.
My sister and I had been in the ER waiting room amongst crying children and suffering patients for about thirty minutes after my mother had arrived by ambulance. We were listening for an attendant to call her name and talk to the family when a man with a tie and badge on walked up to us (must have been an administrator being dressed up) and asked who we were waiting for. After having told him and disappearing behind the automatic double-doors, he returned with good news that we could come back and sit with her. His voice was calming and reassuring as we followed behind him into the hallway.
It was sincere kindness during tension and turmoil.
He was nice. And so was every other person we came in contact with at the hospital. Though it was late into the evening, I was truly amazed at how considerate and friendly these doctors, nurses, technicians, and staff were. They were all nice. Which meant a lot to me in the middle of this stressful situation.
Not only in the emergency room, but throughout the entire hospital I found genuine gentleness and goodness. And you know the other thing I found out? That kindness breeds kindness. As I received the graciousness and forbearance from these hard-working souls, I found myself being kinder to others too — in the lobby, driving home, at the store.
These verses popped into my mind:
- Eph. 4:32—“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
- Gal. 6:9-10—“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
- Luke 6:35—“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”
Reflecting on these, the lesson Father God had for me was simply: “Be nice.”
So that’s my goal. With whomever I come in contact with, wherever I am, just be nice. Smile at people. Help them if I can. Speak encouragement or kind words to them. If an over-worked medical team can walk in kindness during critical, even life-threatening situations, I think I can try to do so also.