Remembering What the Mind Forgets
While having my break, i decided to sit at one of the benches of the park near the hospital (where i am working) with my soda crackers trying to catch a breath of fresh air. There i saw an old man with an old woman. From my view, i can see that he is patiently taking care of her, giving her food, asking what she needs and all. I decided to come closer, sit at the bench where i can observe them closely. the sight of long and lasting love makes me wonder if true love that can endure the challenges of time really exists. Coming close, hearing better, I realise that love knows no boundaries, and it is not something that can be tested through distance and time but rather a love that can last a lifetime.
I assumed they are husband and wife, the way I see it. As I was about to finish my crackers, someone came, a guy in his 40s. I assumed he is the son. "Dad! how's mom?" is just what I heard, then I realised i guessed it right. I looked at my watch, and saw that it was 5 minutes passed my break time. I stood up and about to walk back to the hospital when I heard his son, "Dad, come on, lets go home.. mom can not even recognise us anymore..". I halted for a second. I didn't even know these people, yet I felt a pinch of sadness without even realising it. Then i continued walking.
It was a busy week. I was reprimanded by my seniors about something I didn't do. I felt life is unfair. then again I found myself in the same bench where i was a week ago. Few minutes later, I saw the old man again. He seemed anxious, rubbing his hands over and over again. Then I found myself, talking to him. "hello sir, how are you doing?" I asked calmly. "To tell you frankly, my child, I am a little nervous, my wife is a having episodes now and she can't even recognise me. She has dementia. It was a wonderful time because she got to call me but then in a blink of an eye, she thought I was someone she doesn't know and screamed". The fact that I eavesdropped on him last week, made me have the idea what was going on. I cant say a word, I just realised, he just need someone. I tapped his back and told him "everything will fall into place, they are doing all they can to help your wife".
We talked for hours and I almost forgot the baggages I myself had before talking to this man. He told me how their love story started, bloomed and even times when it was about to fall apart. He isn't perfect, his wife too. But in their imperfections they've got to love each other more. "I'm sorry to be a little nosy here, would you mind if I ask something? its ok if you will not answer it" I finally told him. "Sure my child, go on". .. "What makes you hold on when she cant even recognise you? What keeps you going of reminding her your love if she cant even remember she loves you?" He smiled and answered me back "Because it is not the mind that loves, and it is the heart that remembers what the mind cant." I couldn't look for words.
"This is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I had so many setbacks and failures. I failed her not once but multiple times. But at this time, when even I myself was nearing to its end. This is what I want to do, to be with her and I will never get tired even if she pushes me away, because her face is what I wanted to see every morning of my life till my last breath."
It is the heart that remembers what the mind forgets. This keeps echoing in my mind.
If we are faced when we are already in the last 4th of our lifetime? In what things are we willing to spend our time and energy with? Acquiring wealth and more wealth? Dealing with hatred frustrations and resentment? Are we willing to experience the happiness of being with someone we love and endure the pain that comes with it? Life in this world isn't perfect, it is how we look at it. Life may bring us different situations unfathomable to human brain, yet surprisingly understandable to a caring heart. Life is a matter of what we choose and what we set our eyes focused on? on the disease and impurities or in the love behind it.
I don't know what happened to them, but i am rest assured that when the Lord comes in His second coming, these two will be reunited, she will be healed and finally, she will remember.
Let us be reminded of this
I assumed they are husband and wife, the way I see it. As I was about to finish my crackers, someone came, a guy in his 40s. I assumed he is the son. "Dad! how's mom?" is just what I heard, then I realised i guessed it right. I looked at my watch, and saw that it was 5 minutes passed my break time. I stood up and about to walk back to the hospital when I heard his son, "Dad, come on, lets go home.. mom can not even recognise us anymore..". I halted for a second. I didn't even know these people, yet I felt a pinch of sadness without even realising it. Then i continued walking.
It was a busy week. I was reprimanded by my seniors about something I didn't do. I felt life is unfair. then again I found myself in the same bench where i was a week ago. Few minutes later, I saw the old man again. He seemed anxious, rubbing his hands over and over again. Then I found myself, talking to him. "hello sir, how are you doing?" I asked calmly. "To tell you frankly, my child, I am a little nervous, my wife is a having episodes now and she can't even recognise me. She has dementia. It was a wonderful time because she got to call me but then in a blink of an eye, she thought I was someone she doesn't know and screamed". The fact that I eavesdropped on him last week, made me have the idea what was going on. I cant say a word, I just realised, he just need someone. I tapped his back and told him "everything will fall into place, they are doing all they can to help your wife".
We talked for hours and I almost forgot the baggages I myself had before talking to this man. He told me how their love story started, bloomed and even times when it was about to fall apart. He isn't perfect, his wife too. But in their imperfections they've got to love each other more. "I'm sorry to be a little nosy here, would you mind if I ask something? its ok if you will not answer it" I finally told him. "Sure my child, go on". .. "What makes you hold on when she cant even recognise you? What keeps you going of reminding her your love if she cant even remember she loves you?" He smiled and answered me back "Because it is not the mind that loves, and it is the heart that remembers what the mind cant." I couldn't look for words.
"This is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I had so many setbacks and failures. I failed her not once but multiple times. But at this time, when even I myself was nearing to its end. This is what I want to do, to be with her and I will never get tired even if she pushes me away, because her face is what I wanted to see every morning of my life till my last breath."
It is the heart that remembers what the mind forgets. This keeps echoing in my mind.
If we are faced when we are already in the last 4th of our lifetime? In what things are we willing to spend our time and energy with? Acquiring wealth and more wealth? Dealing with hatred frustrations and resentment? Are we willing to experience the happiness of being with someone we love and endure the pain that comes with it? Life in this world isn't perfect, it is how we look at it. Life may bring us different situations unfathomable to human brain, yet surprisingly understandable to a caring heart. Life is a matter of what we choose and what we set our eyes focused on? on the disease and impurities or in the love behind it.
I don't know what happened to them, but i am rest assured that when the Lord comes in His second coming, these two will be reunited, she will be healed and finally, she will remember.
Let us be reminded of this
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
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