Dr. John Rosen (1902-1993) was a psychiatrist in New York City. He was well known for his work with catatonic schizophrenics.

Normally doctors remain separate and aloof from their patients. But Dr. Rosen moved into the ward with them. He placed his bed among their beds. He lived the life they lived. Day-to-day, he shared their lives. He loved them. If they didn’t talk, he didn’t talk either. It is as if he understood what was happening. His being there, being with them, communicated something that they hadn’t experienced in years — somebody understands me!

But then he did something else. He put his arms around them and hugged them. He held these unattractive, unlovable, sometimes incontinent persons, and loved them back into life. Often, the first words they spoke were simply, “Thank you.”

This is what Jesus did for us at Christmas. He moved into the ward with us. He placed his bed among our beds. Those who were there, those who saw him, touched him and were in turn touched by him and restored to life. The first word they had to say was “Thank you!”

Thank you to Mark Berg and Donald L. Deffner for this story.

How has Jesus “moved into the ward” with YOU in YOUR life?

“JESUS”….JUST THE WHISPER OF YOUR NAME BRINGS THE POWER OF YOUR PRESENCE!

A friend called me and said she only reads one of my poems every day so she can think about it throughout her day. Please check out my: A POEM A DAY TO PRAY 2025