Patients/Patience

I work with patients in a hospital every day.
And every day
I get frustration
hopefulness
inspired
laughter
crying...

I get drug-addled confusion
combativeness
crazy conversations
forgetfulness
and child-like trust.

And sometimes
I get no response at all.

But every day I attempt
to remember that each patient
is terrified they will die
or terrified they may live
confused
worried about finances
worried about their families
worried about their pets
worried that life as they knew it
may never happen again.

And I attempt to remember
and to share
kindness
truth
support
encouragement
faith
strength when they feel weak
confidence when they feel hopeless
and joy
when they go home.

Remember that all health care workers
nurses
therapists
cleaning staff
doctors
and even people working in the cafeteria...
We all wish that we could go out of business;
wish that no loved-ones would ever be ill
that there would never be a reason for surgery
that no one was sick
or injured
or failing
or dying.

And we are sorry that patients
must have
patience
while they are here.