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For many years I worked at St. Francisco General Hospital as a spiritual care provider/chaplain, so hospitals feel like home to me.  And what I know from that experience is that healthcare workers – everyone from those who clean and sanitize the rooms, to social workers, to nurses, care aids, physicians, administrators, occupational, physical and respiratory therapists, pharmacists and those whose roles I can’t remember – are the most kind-hearted, courageous, strong, committed, loving, intelligent and skilled people I’ve ever encountered.  

How can I express my gratitude?  “Thank you”, seems insufficient.  What can I say to you?  How can I convey my gratitude, my respect and my appreciation?   I love you.  That’s what I want to say, I love you.  I love you for being so courageous that you will take on risk to yourselves in order to care for the health and well-being of strangers.  I love you for your compassion and tender care of patients, even when they’re surly and mean, self-centered and ungrateful, or confused and afraid.  I love you for spending so much time, energy and money (not to mention, blood sweat and tears) to develop the skills that enable you to do your jobs.  I love you for going to work, rolling up your sleeves and washing your hands thousands of times a day in order to take care of your patients, while we get to be safe at home.  I love you, I love you, I love you.  Love casts out fear.  Love gives us strength when we’re weak.  Love lifts us up when our hearts are broken. 

You’re allowed to be tired, you’re allowed to be afraid, angry and sad.  You’re allowed to have moments where you just want to run away from it all.  You’re allowed to cry.  You’re allowed to be human.  Please be gentle with yourselves and one another.  Please stay safe.  Please know that in every moment, even the ones that leave you wanting to curl up on the floor and weep, love is pouring in on you from every direction, from every heart in this world.  Feel the love and let it give you the strength you need to carry on.  We love you.  We love you.  We love you. And here’s how we’re going to show you our love: we’re going to stay home unless our lives are a stake, because we know you need to be there for the most vulnerable.