For my friends and coworkers

Have you noticed life seems to group things in cycles? ... You enjoy a quiet space of time where nothing much is happening. then. Deadlines all happen within days of each other. Emergencies pile up one after another. Death even seems to come in groups (of three if you're really superstituous).
When you work in the geriatric field death is a repeatable fact of your working life. That doesn't make it any easier to handle, emotionally and physically. It takes its toll. This past month has been a difficult one for all of us at 'the home'. We have had several of our residents leave us as they finish one of the two things that everyone says are always inevitable (death and taxes). For some, it was a first time experience. For many of us, its one of the many good-byes we have had to experience.
It hurts. It hurts to loose some that has become a part of your daily life. For the full time staff they have spent day in, day out with these residents. Residents who within a short time become family and friends. For most of them they see more of us, than they do of their own families. They know our daily moods, family, pets, hopes and dreams. We know of their families, moods, disappointments, lifetime success. It is us who help them with the most intimate details of daily living, and it is in those moments that we bond over the fragility of the human body.
It is hard work. Emotionally and physically. The day to day bending, lifting, and listening.
Most of what you read in the press and news stories are about the defeciences, the horror stories of long term care facilities. Rarely, do you hear of those dedicated, compassionate workforce that make up the backbone of these homes. Never do you see the tears and heartache they have felt as they watch a failing resident loosing their grip with life on earth. Never do you hear of the grace and dignity they have granted a loved one as their bodies fails them.
So many times you hear: "I don't know how you can stand to do this kind of work!" .... Thank God there are people who are willing to put others before themselves. Thank God there are those who are willing to care enough to hurt and cry each and every time.
I want to let those workers know that when you say.. "I just don't know how long I can keep doing this" please remember....
Bless You, Bless You, Bless You. Let God wrap you tight in his arms. Let your weary body relax in his strong grasp of strength and love. He will renew you. Let his Spirit return you refreshed and know that you are blessed. You are blessed to minister love, caring and compassionate. How fortunate we are to be able to share so many lives, and whisper a farewell as another journey starts.
And just think...........when its our turn to pass over those gates... how many will be there to greet us and welcome us!!!