“To everything, there is a season.”
So begins the third chapter of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, followed by eight examples of contrasting “seasons,” starting with, “A time to be born, and a time to die” (3:1). And when that time begins to be a reality, Seasons Hospice is there.
Seasons Hospice, based in Springfield, Missouri, serves an area approximately from Cassville to Bolivar, providing hospice and palliative care, caregiver support, and bereavement and grief support to residents of southwest Missouri as they have done for over a decade.
This family-owned service takes pride in caring for the entire family with compassion, incorporating faith into everything they do. They emphasize to their clients that calling hospice does not mean the family abandons their loved one for their last days or weeks; rather, it helps create a peaceful, comforting atmosphere, ensuring practical needs are met so that patients and their families live those remaining days to the fullest.
Jessi Neal, owner of Neal Marine in Kimberling City, also serves as a nurse with Seasons Hospice and has found a creative way to bless and engage families receiving hospice service. After getting acquainted with the floral department staff at an area store, she began collecting flowers that were scheduled to be tossed. Although the flowers are technically past their optimal sale dates, many are still beautiful, perhaps needing just a bit of trimming or TLC but with several days of enjoyment left. Jessi uses the flowers to create arrangements for hospice patients, bringing beauty into what can often be a stressful time.
Jessi provided several of her “rescue” floral arrangements as table centerpieces for a recent Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, where many guests commented how attractive they were. These conversations led to further conversation about how, even as a person nears the end of their allotted season on earth, beauty and value can still be found. In her work with Seasons, Jessi helps people experience that value, adding a touch of beauty through flowers along with the compassion and practical care needed to navigate the season.
Seasons Hospice is affiliated with state and national hospice and palliative care associations and partners with healthcare professionals, social workers and chaplains to provide a complete range of services. Along with eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid assistance, Seasons has developed a generous donor base to help keep hospice care costs accessible. Reach out via https://springfieldhospice.com/about/ to learn more and be prepared for your family’s season of need.
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