Our daughter, Charity, has tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, Teresa and I were required by our employer, Dollywood, to be tested. So, this morning we went to the health department in Sevierville, TN, for the test. Upon arrival, we followed the signs to the area at which the tests were being done and found several health workers standing in the hot morning sun, taking information, registering those in line to be tested, and doing so with patience and understanding. They took time to answer our many questions, showing no signs of frustration or aggravation with us. They provided their service with a high level of professionalism, coupled with a sincere display of compassion.

As we conversed with those involved in the registration process, and then with those who were actually performing the tests, we shared with them our gratitude for their service, their patience, and their willingness to stand in the hot sun clothed with all the safety PPE necessary to protect them from being infected.

All this caused us to converse about how blessed we are to have dedicated healthcare professionals who place themselves in harm’s way in order to provide their services to those in need. Through the years of my adult life, and especially in the years in which I have needed the attention of healthcare providers, I have become more and more thankful for their selflessness in serving others. I have been blessed to be personally acquainted with many such providers, and, sadly, to my shame, I have not shown my gratitude for them as I should.

So, today, I would like to say a simple ‘thank you’ to all those who are tirelessly, selflessly, and even sacrificially providing their services to our communities. Let’s not take them for granted, but rather, let’s take every opportunity made available to us to share a simple word of thanks. Perhaps you have not needed the services of a healthcare provider in the recent or even distant past, and because of that you have not put forth the effort to thank some of them personally; but might I suggest that we take time, and put forth the effort to do so.

There are many ways in which we can do this. A telephone call; an email; a text message via the portal on your healthcare providers website; an old fashioned, hand-written letter; or by any means available to you.

So, here it is: thank you to all those healthcare providers with whom I have been personally acquainted, as well as those whom I have never met. Your dedication, service, selflessness, and sacrifice are noticed and appreciated.