Wonderfully Made Is Not Just a Verse. It Is a Leadership Lens.
Earlier this week I shared a blog called: Unbox the Workforce: Retention Begins When Leaders See the Whole Person. It is important to me to show the business side AND the human side of everything I talk about.
Psalm 139 reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I believe that applies inside healthcare workplaces too.
People are not just CNAs, nurses, therapists, housekeepers, dietary aides, social workers, leaders, or vendors. They are whole people. They carry stories, talents, creativity, burdens, hopes, and callings that may never appear on a job description.
#UnboxMe is about honoring the whole person. Not ignoring performance. Not avoiding accountability. But choosing to lead with the belief that there is more inside people than the box we often place them in.
When leaders make room for gifts, people do not just work differently. They often begin to see themselves differently. This carries over in their job satisfaction, their home life, and how they treat themselves and others.
Reflection question: Who needs you to see the gift before you only see the gap?
Here is a sneak peek at Day 9 of my Devotional for Healthcare Providers and Caregivers that talks about being:
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Psalm 139:14
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
In healthcare and caregiving, you witness fragility daily.
Aging bodies. Declining cognition. Wounds. New diagnoses. Behaviors. Limitations.
But beneath every diagnosis is dignity and once upon a time a young professional or military personnel or mom, or builder, or pastor.
“Your scarred heart isn’t wounded,
it’s healed more quickly because of this great hope.”
— from the author’s song “A Broken Masterpiece”
Every patient, every provider, every family member, every caregiver is wonderfully made even when it is scarred, frail and fighting for its life.
LOOK UP when you forget your own worth or you need a reminder that those you care for are also wonderfully made.
L – Let go and learn.
Am I measuring myself by productivity?
O – Open your mind.
I am more than my performance.
O – Open your lungs.
Breathe in the truth of your identity.
K – Kick out the negative.
Comparison distorts calling.
U – Unlock reflection.
What gifts has God placed in me?
P – Promise presence.
I will honor my own humanity.
You are not only a caregiver.
You are a creation.
Reflection Questions
How do I define my worth?
Where do I compare myself to others?
What strengths do I overlook?
How can I honor my identity beyond work?
From the Heart…
When I reflect on being “wonderfully made,” I am reminded of how diverse, gifted, and vibrant each individual truly is. We are not our job. We are not our disease. We are not our circumstances. We are who God created us to be.
Recognizing this in those we treat and care for creates meaningful moments. It creates small wins that preserve self-worth, dignity, and personal value, even in the most difficult seasons of life. Sometimes, it is their past passions, jobs and hobbies that create clarity, calmness, and intention even in the worst cases. And the same is true for us as professionals.
When we are seen and utilized for all of our gifts, not just the letters behind our name, it creates a deeper sense of purpose, fulfillment, and lasting impact. I once wrote about this concept in an effort I called #UnboxMe, which speaks to seeing and honoring the whole person for their professional experience and life passions. Because identity was never meant to be confined. It was created to be fully lived. I can attest to this in simply following through with the writing of this devotional.
I also want to remind you that you can easily forget who made you and what you were made for. Creating worldly measuring sticks that do not reflect how wonderfully made you are. I’ve had seasons where I defined myself completely by my performance. By outcomes. By productivity. By whether I felt like I “got it right.” Then I remember I am more than all of those things combined. I am wonderfully made.
#UnboxMe (2018) — McKnight’s Guest Column
#AdvantageYOUHCS #JoyfulByGraceTR #SkilledNursing #LongTermCare #RehabilitationServices #SNFRehab #MedicareAdvantage #ManagedCare #QAPI #QualityImprovement #HealthcareLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #WorkforceDevelopment #UnboxMe #DisabilityPrideMonth #ADAAnniversary #ResidentCenteredCare #CaregiverSupport #HumansTakingCareOfHumans
