Words of hope remind others they are not alone

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. - A few words written in chalk can disappear with the rain. But sometimes, the feeling they leave behind lasts much longer.

Throughout September, AdventHealth Hendersonville and AdventHealth Polk are inviting neighbors, patients, visitors and team members to take part in Draw Hope, Share Hope, a community expression of encouragement created in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Colorful messages are beginning to fill the space. Some are only a few words long. Others offer encouragement to a stranger they may never meet:

"You matter."

"Keep going."

"You are loved."

For AdventHealth Mental Health Consultant Christine Lau, RN, LCSW, who spearheaded the project, that simplicity is exactly the point.

"Hope does not always arrive through a big gesture. Sometimes it is a few words that remind someone they are seen, that their life has value and that they are not walking through a difficult season alone," Lau said. "I wanted to create something our whole community could be part of. Every message is one person choosing to reach toward another person with kindness. That connection is at the heart of why we are doing this."

The project reflects AdventHealth's faith-based commitment to whole-person care and its mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. It also creates an opportunity to talk openly about emotional well-being and the role each person can play in helping others feel connected and supported.

Julia Bentley stopped to add her own message. Her reason was simple:

"Because we all are amazing people, and we're all going through hard times, and everybody needs to feel loved," she said. "Feeling loved helps you get through this world."

For Bentley, Draw Hope, Share Hope is an extension of something she tries to practice every day.

"I talk to everybody. I give a smile," she said. "You never know if somebody's having a bad day."

Bentley said a person standing nearby in a grocery store may look upset, but there is no way to know what that person is carrying. Someone they love may be sick. They may be facing trouble at home. They may simply be having one of the hardest days they have experienced in a long time.

"Sometimes just saying hello and a kind word gets them out of their thought and gets them to realize that life's OK and there are people who care," she said.

That spirit of human connection is what Draw Hope; Share Hope is designed to make visible.

Throughout September, AdventHealth Hendersonville and AdventHealth Polk invite people to stop by the hospitals to add their own message of hope or inspiration.

The message does not have to be long or profound. It simply needs to come from the heart. Because the person who reads it next may need those words more than anyone knows.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. When texting 988 in Spanish, type "Ayuda" to connect with a Spanish-speaking counselor. Support is available 24 hours a day.