DELPHOS, Ohio (WLIO) – A local nonprofit agency is recognizing the dedication of its staff with a special blessing ceremony.
In honor of National Nurses Week, the staff of CHP Home Care and Hospice participated in a “blessing of the hands” — a centuries-old tradition meant to honor the vital role nurses play in healing and compassion. The idea came from Colleen Quickery, the administrator of Hearth & Home in Van Wert.
Chaplain Steve Haddix said he has performed about 240 blessings for staff across Paulding and Van Wert counties, as well as the Lima and Delphos offices. This marks the first year CHP has offered the ceremony, and it has had a powerful impact on many who received it.
“I think for me, the most special part is when you do that 30-second blessing, and I look up and the people have tears in their eyes, it just it means so much. We've been in situations. We've been put in places where people just said, you know, this is exactly what they needed for that day. So, it's just been an amazing journey,” said Steve Haddix, hospice chaplain.
In honor of National Nurses Week, the staff of CHP Home Care and Hospice participated in a “blessing of the hands”.
“This is very special for us as nurses, because, you know, not only do we physically work with our hands, sometimes our hands are just that nice, reassuring touch on one's hands or one shoulder, or that hug. So again, it's just not the physical work, it's the emotional part that we also get attached to the patients with,” said Ashley Crossgrove, RN supervisor.
CHP Home Care and Hospice plans to continue the blessing of the hands in future years and hopes to expand the ceremony beyond National Nurses Week.
