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It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from a wound.
He said he was in a hurry, as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him.
I saw him looking at his watch, and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment that morning, as he was in such a hurry.
The gentleman told me no, but he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
I inquired about her health; he told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s Disease.
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, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, “And 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. I had goose bumps on my arms and 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.
By Nithya Shanti
Nithya Shanti is an MBA who lived as a forest meditation monk for many years. He facilitates the "Happiest Day of Your Life" and other programs on conscious living around the world. His website is http://www. lovingsilence.org and he also shares his learnings on Facebook http://profile.to/nithya
I indeed had goose bumps while reading through that line:
”She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.”
What dedication, respect & value that old man had for his "LOVE"... great...
Aravind, first of all thanks for sharing this lovely story & second, thank you so much for letting us know about the source & author as well !!!
Happy to see our discussions did have a positive result !!! :)
Cheers !!!
Diana
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful and heart touching post.. It made my heart warm.. Wish all of us understand the importance of our loved ones when they are with us, rather than, repenting at their absence..
Such a nice post.. I ll share it with all my friends..
Keep Sharing.
Regards,
Manjari
True Harsh,
We grow old when we lose Hope, Faith, Zeal to live & more than anything else...when we lose LOVE...!!!!
True Harsh,
We grow old when we lose Hope, Faith, Zeal to live & more than anythi... See Diana's complete reply
Yess Diana, But only if we grow OLD. ;)
:)-(arsh
After reading this article, I do not have words to say......
This is so heart touching story and the line
"He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now." Such kind of patience that guy was carrying which simply proves that Love is all giving and not expecting anything.
The article is too good, excellent...
Thanks for sharing Aravind.
Warm regards,
Priyanka Singh