On a recent occasion, my husband and I attended a community meeting at a local church. With him dropping me off at the curb, I headed to the main entrance, and a man ahead held the door open for me.

“Are you here for the Boy Scouts’ meeting?” he asked.

Shaking my head and chuckling to myself, I start pondering, “Oh my! That sounds familiar. Person #562 who thinks I’m a boy.”

Have you ever been misidentified…either by name, age, profession, etc.? Unfortunately, misidentification happens all the time, especially here at the hospital. We strive continuously to identify others properly or possibly to make ourselves clearly known to visitors, but despite wearing badges and specific clothing, families and visitors, who are especially in crisis, can easily become overwhelmed and confused with all the members of the medical team. In these moments of reminding families and visitors of our names and roles with a calming and patient presence, may we use these times to also remind ourselves of our greater identity and role as servants to the Lord.

Let us pray:

Gracious God,

As we serve those who enter through the doors of our hospital, may we not just operate in our roles but also identify ourselves with You through our actions and words.

In Your name I pray,

Amen