It was a busy morning, about 8:30am, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at nine. I took his vitals and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before the doctor could see him.

I saw the gentleman looking at his watch. Since I was not busy with another patient, I decided to evaluate his wound. It was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures, and redressed his wound.

While I worked, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment. He seemed in a hurry. The gentleman told me no; he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she had Alzheimer's.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was. It had been five years since she had recognized him. I was surprised, and asked, “You still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?” He smiled as he patted my hand and said, “She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.”

I had to hold back tears as he left and I had goose bumps on my arm. I thought, “That is the kind of love I want in my life.”

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.  



Until you return, fill your days with GIGGLES, JOY, and APPRECIATION!

SylviaSilk, D.D. Director of the Institute For Balanced Living, Los Angeles,CA, USA
DoctorofDivinity, SpiritualCoach, ReconnectiveHealingPractitioner, Writer