Posted by Terry S. (24.94.59.215) on April 20, 2000 at 15:50:04:
HANG ON TO EACH OTHER
Too often we feel alone. But there is always someone ready to
take our hand. There is a beautiful story of an overworked nurse
who escorted a tired, young man to her patient's bedside. Leaning
over and speaking loudly to the elderly patient, she said, "Your
son is here."
With great effort, his unfocussed eyes opened, then flickered
shut again. The young man squeezed the aged hand in his and sat
beside the bed. Throughout the night he sat there, holding the
old man's hand and whispering words of comfort.
By morning's light, the patient had died. In moments, hospital
staff swarmed into the room to turn off machines and remove
needles. The nurse stepped over to the young man's side and began
to offer sympathy, but he interrupted her. "Who was
that man?" he asked.
The startled nurse replied, "I thought he was your father!"
"No, he was not my father," he answered. "I never saw him before
in my life."
"Then, why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I realized he needed his son and his son wasn't here," the man
explained. "And since he was too sick to recognize that I was not
his son, I knew he needed me."
Mother Teresa used to remind us that nobody should have to die
alone. Likewise, nobody should have to grieve alone or cry alone
either. Or laugh alone or celebrate alone.
We are made to travel life's journey hand in hand. There is
someone ready to grasp your hand today. And someone hoping you
will take theirs.