What if our Only Purpose is to Love and Be Loved?

Yesterday, I went to visit my ladies in the nursing home. I’ve been volunteering for Hospice these last few months but for some reason, I have developed a real sweet spot for these two. The way they light up when I walk in makes my whole body smile. They reach out and pat me on the head or run their hand down my face. I walk in and straighten their bodies in bed or wrap their warm blankets tightly around them to make sure when I leave they will not be cold. 

It breaks my heart to see them there alone. It physically pains me each time I walk back out of their door knowing I won’t see them for another week. They are somebody pretty important. Their lives mean something. They are mothers, grandmothers, and so much more. One woman has a baby doll on her bed. When I put the doll in her arms she smiles the sweetest smile I ever ever seen. I watch her come alive as she hugs the baby and kisses her cheek. 

What I’ve learned is, we may forget names and faces. Time may steal our memories like a their in the night. The one thing we cannot forget is love. No one can take that from us. That is not a memory but a seed that is planted in our heart and continues to grow even when the rest of the body and mind begins to shut down. Are we here to be the president of a well known company? Are we here to change the world and accomplish something incredible? Maybe we are simply here to love and be loved. Maybe we CAN take THAT with us when we finally go. I guess someday I will know. It’s something to consider.

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