Tuesday, June 17, 2008

How To Dance In The Rain

My good friend Lisa Grinstead sent this to me because she knows how much I admire my dad for taking such amazing care of my mom who is suffering with Alzheimer's Disease.

Thank you Lisa for sending this to me, it is appreciated beyond what words could adequately express.

How to Dance in the Rain


It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, 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 every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

With all the jokes and fun that are in E-Mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. This one I thought I could share with you.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'



4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Early morning I've got a e-mail. It was the first mail I've got from 'Ripple Effect.'
It may be a drop in the ocean but it started great ripple in my mind as it might do in many hearts of people.

It was the most happy time for me to share this message with you!
'The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.'
'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'
Yes, I'll remember this whenever I stand in the rain! I pray it may live long in my heart and friends' and start so many ripple every minute.

With love
Young-chul Chun
from Jeonju in South Korea

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a wonderful article. Its hard to keep focused in life and always wanting to be happy in every aspect when we should just accept things the way they are and take things one day at a time and just keep dancing with that same person we so wanted to dance with in the first place even though they have two left feet. :-)

Steve Harper said...

Young-chul Chun,

Great to have a reader from South Korea. One of my best friends in the world lives there.

Thanks for sharing your message with me. It really means a lot. I love your take on this unique story - and I am glad it meant something to you.

Ripple On!!!

S

Steve Harper said...

Zelda,

Thanks for the comment. I agree with you 100%!

Ripple On!!!

Steve