“Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference.”
– Kevin Heath
Last month, team members from around the system celebrated SSM Health’s earliest roots during Mission and Heritage Week. We remembered and honored Mother Mary Odilia Berger and her companions who arrived on the St. Louis riverfront more than 152 years ago. These brave women came from Germany with the intention of serving God and caring for the poor and sick.
Upon their arrival, they immediately set out to care for victims of smallpox, typhoid, diphtheria, scarlet fever, and cholera, which ran rampant in the crowded tenements, neighborhoods, and streets. They set their own safety aside, choosing instead to bring the healing presence and love of God to those most in need. In fact, when we look back at our sisters’ earliest ledgers, patients were often designated as “ODL” or “Our Dear Lord’s”— meaning that they could not afford to pay for their care.
What could be more inspiring than closing SSM Health’s Year of Kindness Challenge with the same focus as our founding sisters when our health ministry began: extending kindness to those in need?
As we move into the holiday season, we have the perfect opportunity to bring light and warmth into the lives of others – especially those who have fallen on hard times. This is a season rooted in gratitude, reflection, and connection—a time when entire communities come together in a spirit of generosity.
Whether it’s supporting a cause close to your heart, donating to a local organization, or simply lending a helping hand to a neighbor in need, your actions can bring hope and stability to those who need it most. When we extend kindness to someone in need, it’s like a natural outpouring of God’s love within us.
December: Be kind to someone in need
For the final month of our challenge, we invite you to join us in completing the series of prompts below.
| December 2-8 | Sign up to donate blood. |
| December 9-15 | Check with a local homeless shelter to find out what items are needed most and make a donation. (It’s winter – there is often a dire need for socks!) |
| December 16-22 | Keep a “blessing bag” with you containing basic necessities such as toiletries, food, and some extras that you can hand out when you cross paths with an individual who is struggling. |
| December 23-29 | Invite a neighbor who lives alone to come over for dinner or attend a church service with you. |
Thank you for joining us this year for our journey of kindness. We hope you have seen the difference your actions have made in the lives of others, from co-workers to senior citizens, from children to service workers. Now we hope you will continue to walk with us in kindness always.
