I wasn’t sure what retirement would be like. I knew that I would be “retiring” but vowed to not withdraw from service to children and families.1 My commitment to advocacy could not be time-limited. I could not withdraw from the work at hand. But it would be different.
When I was working, I felt that my days were unpredictably predictable. That is to say, I knew that I would be heading to work at specific times, but each daily scenario would vary. Yes, I would have the joy and privilege to see children and families and to help direct certain teams of dedicated child health professionals, but the challenges of each day were unpredictable for specific issues. Overall there was certain predictability to the days at hand.
Now I have entered the phase of predictably unpredictable. I know that the challenges of each day will vary but the predictable calm of each day is due to my new routine. My daily writings and my work with a local children’s home present twists and turns that are unpredictable but delightfully predictable in their ability to add calm and a renewed sense of purpose to a physician who desires to be a contributing elder for children, families and communities. These daily twists and turns bring joy to my heart and stimulate my soul.
Let me elaborate on my work with the local children’s home in Greenwood, SC that has renewed my sense of purpose. In existence since 1892, Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries (CMCM) has served up hope and support for children and families in need. A residential facility, that is also home to crisis care, family care and foster care, Connie Maxwell is at the cusp of the next level of intervention for trauma-informed care.
Under the direction of Danny Nicholson, President since 2017, CMCM commenced its Decade of Dreams in 2020.2 Over the years, the children and families cared for under the Connie Maxwell umbrella had been previously exposed to or suffered trauma that put them at risk for mental health and behavioral problems along with physical health issues in adulthood. Yet, as a society, we have not been very successful in providing support based on the issues at hand.
As a matter of fact, we, more often than not, neglected to consider how past adversity affected the physical and mental health of our children. We tended to ask “what is wrong with you” when dealing with adverse behavior with the implication that the children could easily correct their behaviors. Our current approach asks the question “what happened to you” as elucidated so well by Dr. Bruce Perry.3
The work of Dr. Perry and others has been instrumental in efforts to look at novel approaches to bring trauma-informed care to the next level. In addition to determining “what happened to you,” we now even consider “what is right for you” and boldly progress to the next step “what is healing for you.” We look to find what environmental factors our children have been exposed to, what factors we can identify to be more targeted with our assistance to provide restoration, what factors we can modulate as we seek healing to promote resilience, and what factors we can strengthen to lead to flourishing.
Since late 2022, I have served as a consultant to Connie Maxwell and their efforts to develop a Healing Center seeking the reunification of children and families (as deemed appropriate) with the physical and emotional well-being that can suit them well in the years ahead. Indeed, the Healing Center is logically included in the Decade of Dreams. But the Healing Center has an audacious plan.
Seeking to unify the programs on and off the main campus, CMCM is looking for cutting-edge programs that can drive our efforts to the next level, elevating the Christian ministry even further. Those programs in relational health4 will serve to re-purpose the existing culture and provide a renewed commitment on the part of each and every staff member. While there will be child-specific interventions that will be used, an enhanced CMCM-wide sense of devotion to the children and families (and the staff!) will provide a healing environment that permeates its work at all levels.
Additionally, CMCM hopes to become a nationally recognized center for the study (education and research) of trauma-informed care. Yes, that is a bold goal but worthy of an institution that seeks to provide RESTORATION for the child and family, to develop RESILIENCE with the child and family, and nurture FLOURISHING by the child and family.
A giant step was taken this past week. A $2.6 million gift was announced from the estate of the late Roy McCall of Hartsville, SC.5 The McCall Center can now look quickly to the future and at the same time bring honor to those who have provided so much to CMCM over the last 132 years.
In the words of past president A. T. Jamison, on his death bed back in 1947, President Nicholson and CMCM can now see a clear path forward – “Boys, don’t get in a rut, if children need services and help which we haven’t got, try to learn where you can get it.” The charge is clear – continue to improve and look for ways to serve the children and families that will endure to make a difference. The same Christian principles apply, yet they call for change as the complexity of injury to children and families only seems to worsen over time. CMCM will adapt to the change and carry Mr. Jamison’s banner forward.
I can claim only a minor role as a consultant but share absolute delight in the daily discussions, instruction, and counseling. My now predictably (joy around every corner with a sense of calm) unpredictable (a new way to contribute every day, week and month) state provides for a joyous journey and one that I hope does not end soon. Yet, I know when it does, I will have served some purpose and I am glad.
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/do-pediatricians-retire-from-public-service/
- https://issuu.com/conniemaxwell/docs/strategic_plan_decade_of_dreams?fr=sZWM3ZDM2OTU1OTc
- Perry B, Winfrey O. What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing. Flatiron Books; 2021. 304 pp.
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/the-pediatric-way/
- https://conniemaxwell.com/news/connie-maxwell-childrens-ministries-gifted-2-6-million-to-name-center/