Kindness and Pandemic
TAMMIE ROESLER
I will never forget getting the news alert that the San Francisco Bay Area was shutting down due to COVID-19. It came during a leadership meeting to discuss our pandemic emergency plan implementation. I looked up from my phone at my colleague’s worried faces knowing this was not the news any of us wanted to hear. Two weeks later, Illinois was closed.
My family’s COVID-19 experience has been different than some. Patrick and I are both employed in essential industries going to work every day, leaving our house feigning normalcy in those early days. “Normal” was left in the parking lot: One third of my staff working at home, one third begging to go home, and the rest fearful they would have to work from home. Patients needing care and staff needing PPE and guidance from our clinical team. Everyone concerned and confused. Our leadership met twice daily those first few weeks. We began regularly meeting via conference call with all our Home Care staff to share information. Policies and processes would change almost daily and sometimes more often.
About two weeks into the shutdown, an employee came to my office with a question and a piece of chocolate, which she gave me. I asked her what it was for. “I know how hard you’re working, and I thought you could use it. Thank you for everything you are doing for us.” This very simple act of kindness nearly brought the tears that two weeks of COVID management had not. I was shocked at my response as I am not easily moved to tears. I realized it had been some time since anyone had been kind to me — and me to them.
The next day, I received an update from our HR team VP. It was detailed and informative, as always. Deciding this was an opportunity to share the kindness, I sent back an email letting the manager know how much I appreciated the information and her support of my team. The manager replied with a very heartfelt email letting me know what a tough week it had been and how much she needed to hear that right now. I decided this was how I could make a difference. I think I’m usually nice, but kind is different. Kind is intentional, personal. Kind is making a connection.
I’m not great at it every day, but when I have an opportunity to let someone know I notice and appreciate them, it is a better day. A salutation on the sidewalk instead of just a quick nod or asking another employee in the elevator about their weekend. Letting someone know you know how hard the work has been. Slowing down to talk, even if you are busy. Telling someone you love how much they mean to you. Delivering food pantry boxes. Praying with someone who is scared.
It isn’t always enough to pull me through tough days, but I keep trying. Acts of kindness are what will help us retain our humanity in this crisis. My greatest impression so far is how precious and powerful a small act of kindness can be. I hope this crisis has forever changed this in me.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:32 ESV
Tammie has been attending Imago with her husband Patrick for a little over a year and a half now. During the week she work works at Unity Point and on her free time she enjoys spending quality time with her children and grandchildren. Tammie and Patrick help out a ton around the building and grounds at Imago an she recently became the lead for the Imago Greeting team.