Medows
By DR. RHONDA M. MEDOWS
2021–2022 Chairperson
CHA Board of Trustees
President of Population Health Management
Providence St. Joseph Health, Renton, Washington
Christmas has always been my favorite time of year because it's about birth, family, giving and coming together. This seems especially important for Christmas and the holidays this year.
As I approach this Christmas and our holiday season traditions, I do so with love, sadness and hope. These may seem like very personal feelings to express in a professional publication shared with health care leaders and business professionals. However, as such, we are importantly blessed to be members of healing ministries and therefore we are at a time where we must share all of ourselves to heal professionally and personally. Love, faith, hope and charity are core to our calling and charisms.
I have and continue to grow my love for our caregivers, colleagues, and communities — people who individually and collectively met the tragedies and challenges of this pandemic, social and economic turmoil. People who together live the promise to care for our dear neighbors during unprecedented times.
And I have sadness. This sadness is for those we have lost to illness, for lost time together, and for some beloved traditions now forever changed. Sadness, but not hopelessness or despair.
I have hope for the people living in our communities, those giving, and those receiving care in our health systems. I have hope for our leaders who demonstrate time and time again their ability to find a way through adversity and who truly create new paths forward somehow with a curious mixture of new age innovation and old reliable pragmatism.
I share my family tradition of celebrating the birth of Jesus with my children just as many of you celebrate your own faith with your families. We will be missing several family members and friends from our table, but we will be together in spirit.
This year when we read and reflect on the birth of Jesus, I will think of the telling of shepherds in the fields and of the wise men traveling great distances, following the Star of Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of our savior.
Remember we too have a journey, and our faith is the bright star leading us. Our love, hope, commitment and compassion can be the gifts we bring. What will you bring?
May you be filled with wisdom and the grace of God.
Wishing you precious peace and love now and as we enter a new year.
Copyright © 2021 by the Catholic Health Association
of the United States
For reprint permission, contact Betty Crosby or call (314) 253-3490.