"Give Your Hands to Service and Your Hearts to Love" ~Mother
Teresa

August 26 is Mother Teresa’s birthday. What better way to
honor her memory than to commemorate this day as International Caregiver
Day! On August 26^th Caregiver’s from around the world will celebrate
her contributions to humankind in a spirit of love and reconciliation.This tradition began four years ago when Erie Chapman invited
others to join together to honor the good works and compassion of caregivers. 

Who are the caregivers of this world?

“Whenever need is met with a loving response the encounter is sacred” (Erie Chapman). It begins in our homes and how we care for our
family members. It expands out to the people we work alongside, our neighbors,  encounters with friends, strangers and our relationships with
all of life; all beings and how we live in relationship with Mother Earth. 

 In the work place
this has nothing to do with job titles or whether or not you are a clinician.
It has everything to do with "authentic intention" and "attention". “Where
attention goes, energy flows” (Erie Chapman). The sacred manefests when we offer our full presence to the
person before us with a heart of loving service.

Perhaps, I am the person filling supply orders that will be
taken to a patient’s home. Ever mindful of the person who is
ill, vulnerable and in need, and the importance that he or she receives the correct medical supplies at the
correct time, is a loving response.

We are all caregivers one to another. Every encounter is an opportunity
for the sacred to enter. What we say and do does have a ripple
out effect that touches the lives of others, in ways we may never even know or can even imagine.

May
each of you become the wellspring of compassion as you reach out in care

May
soothing words find a home in you

May
tenderness bless you as you reach out to comfort body, mind and spirit

When
difficult decisions confront you may wisdom inspire you

May
patience keep vigil with you and peace of mind calm you

May
your heart find a song to sing even when you are weary

~Above Blessing shared by my friend, Doreen Chesebro, written by a Sister friend of a Sister…

 Contributed by Liz Sorensen Wessel

Artwork by ~liz