The Quote Blog

Sunday, October 28th, 2007

James D. Bryden on Eternal Love

“Love does not die easily. It is a living thing. It thrives in the face of all of life’s hazards, save one: neglect.”

A nice story for the quote…..and a pleasant way to end today’s posts….

A 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 9:00
am.



I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be
over an hour before someone would to 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 this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The
gentleman told me no, that 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 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 arm,
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.