A time when the more than 4,000 hospices across the U.S. hope to increase awareness of this completely under-utilized plan of care. Most recent National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports show a third of hospice patients are receiving the help they deserve for a week or less, more than 50% for less than one month. That means the majority of people, facing difficult medical decisions and care, are doing so alone or at least without every resource available.

For more than a decade

I have seen Home Hospice team members tend to the gardens of our patients’ souls, from the dedicated medical professionals to those providing spiritual, emotional and social support. It is love in action. There is a thank you note pinned to a bulletin board in our break room which offers proof: “To all who had the joy of serving my Daddy. I thank you for all the hands, visits and the love I know you showed him.”

I have often been asked, “Is there a scarlet thread through the Bible? – a focus of continuity in life?”

Yes – The Cross and Sacrifice of Jesus – that is the scarlet thread through the Bible. Through the Cross there is a reason for everything – all things do work together for good.

• Through Adam and Eve’s sin – you could see a cross.
• Through Cain killing Able – you could see a cross.
• Through the world destroyed by flood – you could see a cross.
• Through Abraham offering Isaac – you could see a cross.
• Through Moses’ striking the stone and denial of the promise land – you could see a cross.
• Through David’s murder of Urriah and sin with Bathsheba – you could see a cross.

Through every ordeal, sin, failure, disappointment, disease, and death; you can see a cross. It’s the scarlet thread through all history, especially “His story” – There is forgiveness for sin, opportunity through crisis, hope in discouragement always.

God can use anything and everything to accomplish his purpose. Even evil (or what appears to be) can be used for goodness and glory. God can take ego, competition, and lust and use it for His glory when it is overshadowed by the cross.

A stroke, a heart attack, a tragedy, a mistake, and yes, even a death, can be used by God to accomplish great glory – the illustration of this is the horror and glory of the cross and the death of Jesus Christ for our sins.
When things are tough, the weather foul, the experience boring or the prospect dim – wait in God – He does all things beautiful in His time and “His Story”.

Chaplain Dr. Jimmy Braswell
Home Hospice

“Listen! The wind is rising and the air is filled with leaves. We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!”
– Humbert Wolfe

Having been a part of this hospice mission for more than a decade you get to witness the milestones of each season through a different set of eyes. Will this be a joyous season of hope, or one filled with sadness and loss? My heart is filled with the determination to reach out to the patients and families we serve, to let them hold onto a piece of the world’s traditions – to let them know “It’s about living.”

Our volunteers find themselves decorating Christmas trees in July, or making St. Patrick’s Day cards in September. It’s a wonder any of us have our days straight. But it’s all worth it… especially on days like today.

Our nurse Myra bustled into the office this morning to relay a message, “I have to tell you our little patient was so thankful your volunteers stopped by with he harvest bag of goodies this week! They just loved that someone took the time to paint the little face, and fill it with goodies… they have it hanging on their door as a Halloween decoration!”

I thank God for the opportunity to guide our volunteer team through this journey, and the ability to reach those whom we serve as whole beings, needing emotional, social and spiritual connection, alongside our dedicated team of professionals providing gold-standard medical care.

The seasons change… what a joy to be able to appreciate the new colors of the leaves.

Karen Carter
Community Relations/Volunteer Coordinator
Home Hospice