Things that catch your eye

Looking through my facebook page yesterday, I came across a little cartoon.   I like cartoons and am fond of drawing them along with caricatures which I give to people as little presents or cards.

On this particular facebook cartoon, one saw a mother and child.  The child was asking 'what's that mark on your arm Mummy?'   The mum answered that it was the little scar left by the smallpox vaccination that she had as a child.   'Why don't I have one' asked the child.   Mum answered 'because it worked!'

Because so many vaccinations have worked, we no longer see the killer infections that would blight the lives of children, even as recently as when I was a child.   I remember going along to the clinic in Newport, South Wales, where a smallpox outbreak had occurred.  No one said 'no thank you.'  People of all ages were queueing outside the clinic and down the road to get the vaccination.  Luckily, the outbreak was short-lived, and it was thought that it arrived in Wales via one of the ships that came into the port, but no one was really sure.  What we were sure about is that we needed protection.  We had confidence in the new National Health Service to make sure we were safe, and they did.  They pulled out all the stops to ensure everyone was covered by the vaccine, and we the public were so grateful.

Things in the NHS have moved on over the years since 1945, but the one thing that hasn't changed is that they are still caring for us and protecting us from the danger of a new virus that threatens us all.

God bless them all, every-one who puts themselves in danger to care for COVID patients, to man the vaccination stations, for the nurses, the doctors, the physiotherapists, and occupational therapists who work to get the patients back on their feet and home.  For the cleansers, the porters, the kitchen staff, and everyone who so unselfishly lead the fight against this dreaded virus.

Father God,

Thank you for the courage of our care workers who have carried on despite the obstacles that get in the way.  We pray that they get enough rest and that their families are cared for.  We pray that they are supported in their off-duty life, so that they can enjoy being with children and families, and recoup their energy to carry on.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.