Mercy in May

Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy and delight to save.”

John Gray

The universe apparently hadn’t finished teaching me lessons as I described in my earlier post “Anxiety in April”. My next monthly post was slated to be this one on the topic of “mercy” and again a word I knew in passing but not with any real experience of the actual meaning. My two ambulances trips and two months in hospital allowed the universe to show me repeatedly real examples of mercy in action. I speak of course of the paramedics, nurses, hospital technicians and doctors in the public health system of this country at whose mercy I was indeed during the two months described in “Anxiety in April”. There were far too many to name individually and completely but they were, without exception, kind and yes, merciful. One could not ask for better treatment anywhere. These were not just any old employees of a blind system. They all seemed to be imbued with a sense of calling, to serve with the utmost of compassionate attitude.

Where do they find these beautiful people? All the challenges grumpy old patients (like me) and others throw at them are invariably met with a smile and a kind word. The dire depths of human suffering are presented to them continually and yet their kindness and good humour continue to prevail.

Sadly though the general perception of our public health system is that it is inferior to the private health system and by inference therefore that these wonderful people are not adequate in some way. It is a complete fallacy of course wrought upon a gullible populace all for the benefit of those making a profit from the private health facilities. Whatever failings may occur in our public health system they are more likely to be a result of financial cutbacks than the quality and dedication of the people involved.

To all of those involved in our public health system, thank you. Thank you for being you and for how you do you.

References:

• Original image: doctor-5187733_1920.png Image by cromaconceptovisual from Pixabay

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