It was approximately 8.30 a.m. on a busy morning when an elderly gentleman in
his eighties arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that
he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9.00 a.m.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat. I knew it would take more than
an hour before someone would to able to attend to him. I saw him check his
watch anxiously for the time and decided to evaluate his wound, since I was
not busy with another patient. On examination, the wound was well healed.
Hence, I talked to one of the doctors to get the supplies to remove his sutures
and redress his wound. We began to engage in a conversation, while I was taking
care of his wound. I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment later as
he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, and said that he needed to
go to the nursing home to have breakfast with his wife.
I inquired about her health. He told me that she had been in the nursing home
for a while as she was a victim of Alzheimer's disease. I probed further and
asked if she would be upset, if he was slightly late. He replied that she no longer
knew who he was, and that she had not been able to recognize him since five
years ago. I asked him in surprise, "And you still go every morning, even though
she doesn't know who you are?" Then 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 my tears as he left. I had goose bumps on my arm, and 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, was not, will be, and will not ever be…
Thanx to Nino Rostomashvili Georgia, Telavi for sharing this event.
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest! Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
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