Valentine Spirit

It has been so long since I have posted! For many good reasons.
I wanted to share a story my sister shared with me this morning. I loved when she worked as a hospice nurse just for these kinds of stories. She hated the hours and emotional commitment, but this was a job she loved with all her heart until she was pretty much just tapped out. It was almost a relief when she left that job and found a new identity as a pediatric nurse.
Polar opposite, nicer schedule, and more time for herself to take care of her mind, body, and spirit.
The following story is one of her high points, a story I hope my children will remember should the need ever arise. I hope I live to be worthy of this depth of love.


"I wanted to share a different type of story that centers on Valentines Day but from a different perspective. I worked as a Hospice Nurse doing home care. The job involved making it possible for a family to keep a loved one in the home to make that final journey through the veil.

We admitted a woman who was cared for by her adult daughter. The woman's spouse had already died a few years before and the woman's goal was to be able to make it to Valentines Day as this was the anniversary of her marriage. It's is not unusual for someone who is dying to want to be able to live to a certain date that has meaning to them.

The woman was fairly debilitated and failing fast. This was the beginning of January. She hung on and hung on with the goal of being able to live until February 14. It was difficult for all of us to see her decline. But she just was not ready to let go.

On the morning of February 1st the daughter went into her mother's room and told her that it was February 14th and she had made it to Valentines Day. Her mother died later that day peacefully. I was so impressed that this daughter loved her mom enough that she was able to give her the release that she needed to let go of her broken body. This to me is a love story on several levels."

Happy Valentine's Day!