"Love means to commit oneself without guarantee, to give oneself completely in the hope that our love will produce love in the loved person. Love is an act of faith"….Erich Fromm
" When the happiness of another person becomes as essential to yourself as your own, then the state of love exists. " ~ Robert Heinlein
" The sum which two married people owe to one another defies calculation. It is an infinite debt, which can only be discharged through eternity."… Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I am narrating this incident that happened in a hospital about 20 years back.
It was a busy morning, about 8:00 am. I had come to visit my aunt who was in the hospital as she had hurt herself by a fall in her bathroom two days back. I was waiting at the hospital reception area for my elder brother who was to join me there. He had the visitor's passes with him.
I had nothing to do and was whiling away my time by observing people entering the hospital. I then saw an elderly gentleman, probably in his 70's, arriving in the hospital to have stitches removed from his thumb.
He told the doctor on duty that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. The doctor took his vital signs and had him take a seat.
The doctor evaluated his wound and on examination, it was found to be well-healed. The doctor then removed his sutures and redressed his wound.
The old gentleman then came and sat next to me on the sofa in the Reception area. It was about 8.45 am at that time. I had two newspapers with me –I was reading one and the other was lying next to me. The old gentleman requested me for the newspaper and I gave it to him.
Just to make some casual conversation, I asked him if he had another important appointment this morning, as he seemed to be in such a hurry Maybe I could give him a lift in the next half an hour after I was free.
"Thanks. I would be able to manage", he replied." I would be here for another two hours. I have to go to the nursing home in the adjacent building at 9.00 am to have breakfast with my wife. She's been there for a while and is a victim of Alzheimer's".
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 to her every morning at the same time, every day , even though she doesn't know who you are?'
He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "Young man. She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."
He must have found me a sympathetic and patient listener and so carried on "We were childhood sweethearts. She was just 18 when we married and have now been together for the last 52 years. My wife has been the epitome of love. Her love, devotion, commitment and support for me has made my life unbelievably happy and fulfilling. If I were to fall in love again, I will have no one but my wife. She is simply beyond words."
He became garrulous and rambled on, reminiscing of her. "When I meet her I am close to her and I hear her love. I find as I look back upon my life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love."
"I love her not only for what she is, but for what I am when I am with her. I love her not only for what she has made of me, but for what she is making of me. I love her for the part of me that only she can bring out. I treasure her in the recognition that I do not know how long we shall have each other."
"Sometimes I think what is Time.When you're watching your beloved not able to recognize you, does it really matter if there are 24 hours in a day? Day or night, I just want to soak in her loving warmth, see her beautiful smile, and give her every ounce of myself."
"How could she, a strong, vibrant woman so full of energy who'd always made me laugh,disregarded my frailties and imperfections ,made me so happy and loved me unconditionally become so ? Must be the will of the Almighty."
The old gentleman then looked at his watch,clasped my hands warmly and said "Sorry, I would have loved to spend more time with you but I must go …she is waiting." Saying this he rushed out of the hospital with strong firm strides.
I had to hold back my tears as he left. I had goose bumps on my arm and thought -That's the kind of love we want in our life. True love is neither physical, nor romantic. It is unselfish, pure, sincere, boundless an immortal flow of energy that nourishes extends and preserves. Love can cure heartbreaks, misfortune, or tragedy. It is the eternal companion.
Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give - which is everything.
My elder brother came in just then. He saw the tears welled up in my eyes-he thought, maybe these were for our sick aunt –she was very dear to us -not knowing about my recent great learning experience from the old gentleman.
" When the happiness of another person becomes as essential to yourself as your own, then the state of love exists. " ~ Robert Heinlein
" The sum which two married people owe to one another defies calculation. It is an infinite debt, which can only be discharged through eternity."… Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I am narrating this incident that happened in a hospital about 20 years back.
It was a busy morning, about 8:00 am. I had come to visit my aunt who was in the hospital as she had hurt herself by a fall in her bathroom two days back. I was waiting at the hospital reception area for my elder brother who was to join me there. He had the visitor's passes with him.
I had nothing to do and was whiling away my time by observing people entering the hospital. I then saw an elderly gentleman, probably in his 70's, arriving in the hospital to have stitches removed from his thumb.
He told the doctor on duty that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. The doctor took his vital signs and had him take a seat.
The doctor evaluated his wound and on examination, it was found to be well-healed. The doctor then removed his sutures and redressed his wound.
The old gentleman then came and sat next to me on the sofa in the Reception area. It was about 8.45 am at that time. I had two newspapers with me –I was reading one and the other was lying next to me. The old gentleman requested me for the newspaper and I gave it to him.
Just to make some casual conversation, I asked him if he had another important appointment this morning, as he seemed to be in such a hurry Maybe I could give him a lift in the next half an hour after I was free.
"Thanks. I would be able to manage", he replied." I would be here for another two hours. I have to go to the nursing home in the adjacent building at 9.00 am to have breakfast with my wife. She's been there for a while and is a victim of Alzheimer's".
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 to her every morning at the same time, every day , even though she doesn't know who you are?'
He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "Young man. She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."
He must have found me a sympathetic and patient listener and so carried on "We were childhood sweethearts. She was just 18 when we married and have now been together for the last 52 years. My wife has been the epitome of love. Her love, devotion, commitment and support for me has made my life unbelievably happy and fulfilling. If I were to fall in love again, I will have no one but my wife. She is simply beyond words."
He became garrulous and rambled on, reminiscing of her. "When I meet her I am close to her and I hear her love. I find as I look back upon my life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love."
"I love her not only for what she is, but for what I am when I am with her. I love her not only for what she has made of me, but for what she is making of me. I love her for the part of me that only she can bring out. I treasure her in the recognition that I do not know how long we shall have each other."
"Sometimes I think what is Time.When you're watching your beloved not able to recognize you, does it really matter if there are 24 hours in a day? Day or night, I just want to soak in her loving warmth, see her beautiful smile, and give her every ounce of myself."
"How could she, a strong, vibrant woman so full of energy who'd always made me laugh,disregarded my frailties and imperfections ,made me so happy and loved me unconditionally become so ? Must be the will of the Almighty."
The old gentleman then looked at his watch,clasped my hands warmly and said "Sorry, I would have loved to spend more time with you but I must go …she is waiting." Saying this he rushed out of the hospital with strong firm strides.
I had to hold back my tears as he left. I had goose bumps on my arm and thought -That's the kind of love we want in our life. True love is neither physical, nor romantic. It is unselfish, pure, sincere, boundless an immortal flow of energy that nourishes extends and preserves. Love can cure heartbreaks, misfortune, or tragedy. It is the eternal companion.
Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give - which is everything.
My elder brother came in just then. He saw the tears welled up in my eyes-he thought, maybe these were for our sick aunt –she was very dear to us -not knowing about my recent great learning experience from the old gentleman.
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