LOVE IN ALL ITS’ FORMS

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One of the paradoxes of love is the unpredictability of where it finds itself. One can define love, and yet not even scratch half the surface, what we scratched is all we think there is!

There is a man, a sweet gentle man who has devoted his life to helping others in his old age. He is 87 and spry, still driving and still caring as a human being. He is set in his ways and will never change them, and why should he? Why should any of us for that matter? , This man’s generosity far exceeds his height and weight.

The man has never married and comes from a bad relationship when we met him for the first time. He is a former nurse’s aid, after years as an engineer.

My family and I have adopted him as a permanent member of the family, yes just like a father figure to some extent, and we are happy we did. Why? Because right after Dad passed in 1991, he revealed himself to be a friend of Mom’s, knowing her from the hospital where they both volunteered. Over the years they have become close friends, spending their old age as company for one another.  This unlikely relationship comes to prove that whatever our prejudices are: we need to take a serious look at them and realize we may be wrong all along.

In his devotion to Mom, he has been better than any husband could possible be, better that any friend or relative could conceivably be. His deep concern and passion as a human being was demonstrated lately in a very touching manner. It gives life to love, and love to life. It is a beautiful thing!

As Mom lay on her hospital bed, suffering from the affected and collective onslaught of her stroke, colitis and inability to be who she once was, helplessly suffering, he bent over to say goodbye to her for the evening, He place two fingers to his lips, and gently with love in his eyes and heart, placed them on Mom’s cheek. Tenderly and softly he admonished her not to make trouble and to behave, a twinkle in his eyes and almost tear filled as he looked at her. Mom in turn looked like a young schoolgirl, accepting what he had to say, a small grin creased her stroked stricken lips and silently nodded.

Find me a greater love and a way to express it better than this wonderful individual if you can, but I doubt you will. He is old himself, and has only one living relative. She has MS and lives in Colorado. When he is no longer able to care for himself, we as a family will rise up and take our turn next to his bedside, and we will walk with him hand-in-hand to a conclusion. Why, because he taught us to.