I embrace Christmas though it’s a holiday of mixed emotions this year. The pandemic has not stopped and the latest variant could overwhelm our support services. Nursing is one of these core services and our family has had to adjust due to isolation needs, consideration for a frailer elder, and the forecast of freezing drizzle.

For the children it is a magical time, as good behaviour is promised and delivered to a fair degree with the news St. Nick will visit this night and bestow gifts of play, love, and delectable goodies. As I reflect upon my time as a paediatric nurse I recall the children who hung their stocking at the end of their bed, asked for reassurance that Santa would be able to find them. As honorary elves we assured the young hearts that yes indeed every child was registered, why that was one of our most important nursing tasks. There are no tall tales or falsehoods when one operates from a position of love and the desire that peace on earth will rule.

Alas our news headlines tend to dwell on the less positive attributes of our communities, the if it bleeds it will lead tends to be the daily newscasts. Though in my Twitter feed this a.m. I found an item from the WHO, a technical lead reported that it had been confirmed that Santa is on his way, as he is fully vaccinated, hale and healthy as confirmed by Mrs. Claus, that the whole world has opened up its airways so that Santa may blink in to deliver numerous toys to good little boys and girls including an array of genders, genetics, geography, near and far. Each culture has their identity imprinted on the image and meaning of Father Christmas, Pere Noel, St. Nicholas, etc. etc. For a few hours as we set aside case counts, vaccine clinics, and other less palatable business; the central theme of this eve is to celebrate the hope contained in a child, the Christ child and in a stroke of brilliance the mid winter pause is to have a feast, make merry with family & friends at gatherings, perhaps imbibe a holiday drink or many.

Whether you attend a service, light a candle in your home, place a plate on the table for an ancestor to feel welcome, to remind all that what we have are the blessings of the holiday. Love for each other, kindness in the acts of donation whether money, food, and/or time to those individuals/families/communities who have limits of resources, challenges we would be daunted by. Sadly on this eve the poignancy of loss will occur and my colleagues will nurse these patients in a variety of settings. Any day is hard to lose a loved one, so at some point I will light a candle, pour a drink, start the Scrooge film with Alastair Sim. As the last line plays “Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.”

May your days be merry and bright and you find yourself as good a friend, a wise leader, honourable, service to your community, and goodwill to all people. Be healthy and the best you can be with what you have today. Namaste

Categories: Uncategorized

Paula M

Registered Nurse Storyteller, Healer, Scribe, Transformational Leader