In Gratitude During National Nursing Assistants Week

The amount of care our personal care specialists give is immeasurable.Their gentle touch soothes anxiety, eases pain, and honors human dignity. They speak softly and attentively to patients. More important, they listen to what patients say. Their compassion is their most defining personal characteristic. Quality of life cannot exist without them. During National Nursing Assistants Week (June 9-16), we join in expressing gratitude for all that our personal care specialists do for our patients and families.

For them, especially, the Blessing of the Hands is appropriate. We thank them and join in blessing their hands.

Blessed be these hands that touched life.

Blessed be these hands that have felt pain.

Blessed be these hands that have embraced with compassion.

Blessed be these hands that have clenched in anger, or withdrawn in fear.

Blessed be these hands that lovingly make sure needed supplies are on hand.

Blessed be these hands that have cleaned beds and disposed of wastes.

Blessed be these hands that brush the hair and bathe the body.

Blessed be these hands that administer medicine that eases the pain.

Blessed be these hands that hold others in prayer.

Blessed be these hands that have reached out and been received.

Blessed be these hands that have comforted the dying and held the dead.

Blessed be these hands.

And now, may these hands now be blessed..

With dignity, with hope, with compassion.

For we hold the future in these hands.