“I am of certain convinced that the greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.” ―Florence Nightingale
At Esther Press, we empower and equip women to courageously stand strong in the truth of who God made them to be. Let us do that for you today by sharing the story of Florence Nightingale.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone….” Galatians 6:9–10
If you’ve ever had an experience with a hospital or nursing home, you know that nurses are a crucial component of care received in those settings. Whether making rounds, delivering medicine, or offering comfort to patients and their families, nurses not only assist doctors, they offer much-needed care and consolation. But nursing as we know it today wouldn’t exist without a nineteenth-century woman named Florence Nightingale.
A Call to Care
Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy, to William Edward and Frances Nightingale. Her parents were on an extended tour of Europe when she was born, and they named her after the city of her birth. When the family returned to England, William took great pains to educate Florence and her older sister, Frances. Florence showed great aptitude for math and languages. Early in her life, she could read and write French, German, Italian, Greek, and Latin. She always preferred more academic pursuits over the domestic skills women were expected to develop.
When Florence was only sixteen, she heard what she believed to be a call from God to help ease the suffering of the people within her reach. Although she had a deep desire to pursue nursing, her family thought the profession was unsuitable for a woman of her social standing. Her mother and sister especially made her life difficult in the years after she felt God’s call. But not even her family’s objections could keep her from following where He led her.
In July of 1850, Florence enrolled in the Institution of Protestant Deaconesses at Kaiserswerth in Germany for two weeks of nursing training, and again in July 1851 for three months. In 1853, she was able to secure a position at an institution caring for sick governesses, where she was quickly appointed superintendent. After one year, Florence considered a career change, believing she could better use her skills in training nurses. But soon the Crimean War broke out, and she received a new calling.
A Call to Crimea
The Crimean War began as a conflict between Turkey and Russia, but it wasn’t long before Britain and France joined as Turkey’s allies. When reports came in that British military hospitals left the soldiers in their care in worse condition than when they arrived, the public was outraged. The British secretary of war, Sidney Herbert, wrote to his wife’s friend Florence, asking if she would lead a group of nurses to the hospital in Scutari, Turkey. Their task was to assess and improve the state of the hospital where they were able.
At first, the doctors were not pleased with Florence and her nurses’ presence, so Florence instructed her nurses to hang back. But before long, the doctors sought the nurses’ help. Under Florence’s courageous leadership, the hospital instituted new practices of sanitation, care for the sick and wounded, and proper nutrition for the soldiers. She also saw to the psychological health of the men in their care, assisting them with letters to family and offering educational and recreational opportunities. Her care for the soldiers brought the mortality rate down, and keeping watch over the men at night earned her the nickname “Lady with the Lamp.”
A Call Unstoppable
Shortly after Florence made her first trip to Crimea, she contracted what was then called “Crimean Fever,” now believed to be brucellosis, a bacterial infection that causes a wide range of symptoms. Her recovery was slow, and she would feel the effects for twenty-five years, her pain often confining her to her bed. Even so, she wrote many works on nursing, held meetings, and pioneered social change. With a mind inclined toward statistics, she was able to influence the world of nursing, even to this day.
On August 13, 1910, at ninety years old, Florence Nightingale passed from this life into the next. Through her work, her impact on nursing extends far past her own life. The calling she felt from God led her to change the world and leave it better than she found it.
Look for one practical way this week to care for someone in need: a visit, a message, a meal, or simply your presence. Small acts of compassion can reflect God’s love in powerful ways.
Prayer: Lord, in light of people who seem to do amazing and great things for You, what I have to offer seems insignificant. Help me understand that You can use small offerings to do mighty things in Your kingdom. Please help me to hear and answer Your call. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
