Day 27: Florence Nightingale - “The Lady with the Lamp”
“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
Introduction
Florence Nightingale came into the world nestled in the comfort of riches and education. She could have remained in that place but when God called her to leave it all behind, she obeyed. As a follower of Christ, she exemplified the call to not just keep a personal relationship with Jesus but also to live as he did and show love to those around her.
The Lady with the Lamp
Nightingale was born into a wealthy and prestigious family in the early 1800s. Her father was well-connected to many people in positions of power all over Great Britain and Europe. Nightingale spent much of her formative years growing up as an educated woman while traveling all over Europe. During one such travel, while she was spending her morning praying to God, she felt God calling her. She wrote, "God called me in the morning and asked me would I do good for him alone without reputation." This moment along with a few key relationships God put in her life, lead her to her eventual calling.
During the Crimean War, Nightingale received the nickname of “The Lady with the Lamp”. Leaving behind a life of luxury, she devoted her life to caring for soldiers wounded during the war. During a time when medical aid was in short supply and medical staff were strained, she pushed for hygiene reform and advocated for the wounded while providing personal care for many. She was given her nickname for the way she would still move around in the dark of the night with her lamp to attend to as many as she could long after her other colleagues had turned in for the night.
She was able to push herself through these dark and lonely nights as she thought to how Christ might personally care for each individual patient. She had a strong desire to live out Christ’s teachings in her daily life.
Reflection
Nightingale could have easily lived a life of comfort and riches but she gave it all up to live the way Christ would have lived. To care and love the way Jesus would have. Consider the way you are currently living your life. Are there areas that we could act in a more Christ-like manner? Let us pray that more of our life may reflect more of Christ.