While I’m not loving my current book group selection, I did
love this brief explanation one character gives on her way to her dying mother’s
bedside. She says, “Don’t you start
worrying about me… Watching someone die gives you a new way of learning to love
them. Imagine, knowing someone for five and a half decades and at the end of
that finding a new way to love them. It’s an extraordinary thing.” Not only
does it beautifully describe what I believe about the honor of being present as
a person embarks on the final remarkable passage that marks the end of this life,
but it made me start to think about new ways to love people before arriving at
that juncture. While it may happen
naturally that you find new ways to love your spouse after decades of marriage; your kids at various milestones in their lives; your friends as you watch them
weather various storms, it’s nice to give it some conscious thought, too. What
an opportunity to rededicate yourself to someone in a different way; to appreciate others
in new and deeper ways. I'm looking forward to seeing what's possible in doing this.
What does the quote say to you?
I really love this and think I had a moment like that today with a family member. I was so touched by his kindness, interest in hearing and helping (me, in this case) and just his openness and patience with me in a moment when I was unclear in my own thoughts and had trouble expressing myself.
ReplyDeleteEven though I feel down about my own inability to communicate effectively or knowing what I really wanted to say in the first place, witnessing my appreciation for him and his kindness and paying attention to it definitely makes me feel grateful not just to him but to the moment itself. I will try to be as mindful as I can about this. Even unconditional love can have extra layers added on top.