"Love is patient, love is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
...
He walked up to the desk in the ward and spoke to the first person at the desk who would give him any attention. In his hands were a basket of chocolates and a piece of paper. He was redirected to the nurse in charge, who subsequently redirected him to me.
"I just wanted to thank you for taking care of my wife. You know, we've been married for sixty years now, and I've been caring for her blood sugars for the past seven years. But sometimes, I'm not able to and I need you guys to help me. I really can't be without my wife you know, so thank you. She was in so much pain, and you can't imagine what it was like watching that. She's doing so much better now!
Thank you for giving my love a second chance."
...
I've been learning a bit about love lately.
I see it in its purest forms every single day at work - the teary wife stroking her husband's hair after he's just passed away, the daughter who comes in with lemons and honey to make her bedbound mother a special drink every day, the son who requests updates several times a day because he's concerned, the parent holding their sick child's hand by the bedside, the echo of sobs when someone loved has passed away, or the husband with his arms wrapped around his frail wife as they walked.
Maybe it's something about sickness and suffering that causes us to realize what truly matters most in life.
Maybe it's through the storms that we learn to love even better, and through sacrifice that love is made perfect in us.
From my inconspicuous position in the corner with a red folder in one hand and pen in the other, or on a wheelie chair behind a computer facing the ward - I see this every day, and am constantly humbled by the human ability to love so well.
Love, as I've learnt.. is incredibly courageous and gutsy. It chooses to believe in the best but is also prepared for the worst case scenario. It opens its arms to the possibility of overwhelming heartbreak because the alternative is simply not worth it - to live completely guarded without risk or vulnerability, to refrain from any semblance of attachment in constant fear of getting hurt.
Love, is Aunty C holding her husband's hand and saying to us - "We're ready for whatever comes."
Love is knowing that when daybreak comes and he's lying in bed too weak to eat, that she would still be there by his side.
Love is selfless, placing the needs of another person before our own. I see it in the sister who would offer her bone marrow without any care or question of the consequences to herself as long as it meant saving her sister's life.
Love is forgiveness, a choice to prefer one another over past hurts and pride. I've seen the heartwarming stuff in hospitals, but I've also witnessed the ones who pass away with no next of kin, no tears by the bedside, and no one to collect the body. I've learnt that pride can keep you company for a day.. but when all is said and done, it's not pride you want with you at the end of your life, it's the people you love. From this, I am learning to be more generous with the "I forgive you's", to make things right when I am in the wrong, to not hold back the "I love you's", and to constantly choose to have a positive voice in a negative generation.
Love.. invites joy and goodness into the darkest of places and makes life so extremely precious, it is an astounding resilience that refuses to be defeated. I see it in the giggles of a bald child undergoing chemotherapy as a result of their parents tickles, I see it in the eyes of a loving wife as her husband became strong enough to squeeze her hand back after a massive stroke, I see it in the gratefulness that is birthed when we realize our time is finite.
Love is so many precious things, and I am ever so thankful to be taught this lesson over and over again, every day, .. to treasure it well while we still can.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
...
He walked up to the desk in the ward and spoke to the first person at the desk who would give him any attention. In his hands were a basket of chocolates and a piece of paper. He was redirected to the nurse in charge, who subsequently redirected him to me.
"I just wanted to thank you for taking care of my wife. You know, we've been married for sixty years now, and I've been caring for her blood sugars for the past seven years. But sometimes, I'm not able to and I need you guys to help me. I really can't be without my wife you know, so thank you. She was in so much pain, and you can't imagine what it was like watching that. She's doing so much better now!
Thank you for giving my love a second chance."
...
I've been learning a bit about love lately.
I see it in its purest forms every single day at work - the teary wife stroking her husband's hair after he's just passed away, the daughter who comes in with lemons and honey to make her bedbound mother a special drink every day, the son who requests updates several times a day because he's concerned, the parent holding their sick child's hand by the bedside, the echo of sobs when someone loved has passed away, or the husband with his arms wrapped around his frail wife as they walked.
Maybe it's something about sickness and suffering that causes us to realize what truly matters most in life.
Maybe it's through the storms that we learn to love even better, and through sacrifice that love is made perfect in us.
From my inconspicuous position in the corner with a red folder in one hand and pen in the other, or on a wheelie chair behind a computer facing the ward - I see this every day, and am constantly humbled by the human ability to love so well.
Love, as I've learnt.. is incredibly courageous and gutsy. It chooses to believe in the best but is also prepared for the worst case scenario. It opens its arms to the possibility of overwhelming heartbreak because the alternative is simply not worth it - to live completely guarded without risk or vulnerability, to refrain from any semblance of attachment in constant fear of getting hurt.
Love, is Aunty C holding her husband's hand and saying to us - "We're ready for whatever comes."
Love is knowing that when daybreak comes and he's lying in bed too weak to eat, that she would still be there by his side.
Love is selfless, placing the needs of another person before our own. I see it in the sister who would offer her bone marrow without any care or question of the consequences to herself as long as it meant saving her sister's life.
Love is forgiveness, a choice to prefer one another over past hurts and pride. I've seen the heartwarming stuff in hospitals, but I've also witnessed the ones who pass away with no next of kin, no tears by the bedside, and no one to collect the body. I've learnt that pride can keep you company for a day.. but when all is said and done, it's not pride you want with you at the end of your life, it's the people you love. From this, I am learning to be more generous with the "I forgive you's", to make things right when I am in the wrong, to not hold back the "I love you's", and to constantly choose to have a positive voice in a negative generation.
Love.. invites joy and goodness into the darkest of places and makes life so extremely precious, it is an astounding resilience that refuses to be defeated. I see it in the giggles of a bald child undergoing chemotherapy as a result of their parents tickles, I see it in the eyes of a loving wife as her husband became strong enough to squeeze her hand back after a massive stroke, I see it in the gratefulness that is birthed when we realize our time is finite.
Love is so many precious things, and I am ever so thankful to be taught this lesson over and over again, every day, .. to treasure it well while we still can.
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