The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I got the following in an email and thought it had a beautiful message so decided to share it with you. (Have the kleenex ready, I needed it!)
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside of her patient. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.
All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused.
Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died.
The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her. "Who was that man?" he asked. The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
The next time someone needs you ... just be there.
Stay.
We are not Human Beings going through a Spiritual Experience,
We are Spiritual Beings going through a Human Experience.
I remember reading that story. I thought it was so sweet. By any chance, does anyone know if it's true? I believe I saw it in CHICKEN SOUP.... the first time.
Wow David agin you speak to me....... This speaks of my son in law as I watch patiently. Dealing with a death od a comrad . yes a marine also ....... stand watching from the side lines as these young men get trown into situations un armed with 12 steps ..... and hope that one ounce of what I have been given shows enough that he asks. day after day ....... I watch these young men come home and watch the lack of empathy that we as americans should have and speak only of that which we need to do to make em whole! of spiritual nature............ Of course as we as mere humans can only aspire ! thank you david !
