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Love Much..Care Lots..Reach Out With Compassion

Yesterday an outstanding woman touched my heart and showed me the true treasure of living.

When I walked into the hospital yesterday afternoon to take my place as escort, one of my co-workers got up and walked to me. She put her arms around me and gave me a hug and said, "How is you Hospice patient doing?" I answered her that we are doing well.  She held me away from her and said, "You know the hospital is full of sick people. I'm going to a funeral of a loved one this afternoon. There is no end to the compassion this old world needs, is there? I'm going to do some visiting before I leave here."

I took her place at the information desk and she got her purse and headed toward the elevators. I know that she hadn't ate since at least 7:30 that morning, because she had to be at work by 8:00.  It was close to 2:00 then I saw her come from the elevator and head down the stairs to the cafeteria, to get some lunch.

She wasn't concerned about herself. She loved those little people upstairs. To be truthful I don't even know her name. The words that came to my mind as I watched her were simple but very meaningful. "Love much..Care lots...Reach out with compassion.

"Love much..Care lots..Reach out with compassion"  What beauty those words give to a person. You don't even have to know their names, but the soft look on their faces says it all. The kindness in their smile, the softness of their voice, the twinkle in their eyes, that's what really matters.

There is so many suffering today. The hospitals across the nation are full and running over. That terrible word "cancer" is not being partial to anyone. There are divorces that are breaking up little homes. There are fires raging out of control, destroying everything that is in their path. There are hurricanes that are ripping down buildings and dropping huge amounts of water in places. There are diseases hitting the strong and leaving them helpless. You could go on and on about all the negative things that are happening around us.

There are these terrible things that are hitting people of all ages. But there is one thing that none of the above can touch. It is kept safe within the hearts of some people. No disease, no cancer, no fire, no hurricane can even make a dent in this one thing that lives within the hearts of some people. And that one thing can do a work that is perfect, and beautiful. It can work in the midst of disaster all around it.

That one special thing is "Love much...Care lots...Reach out with compassion"

Just this morning I was taking a walk down the road. I met a number of cars taking the neighbors to their jobs in town. As each one passed me I held up my hand and gave them a hearty wave. You may say, "It was just your neighbor going to work, like he does everyday." Yes it was just my neighbor going to work, but just maybe my waving hand made them feel good about themselves. Maybe my waving hand put sunshine in their day where there was clouds.  "Love much..Care lots...Reach out with compassion"

If you come upon a young man or young woman who doesn't think life is worth living anymore, what do you do?  Do you just pass them by and thank God that it isn't you?  Do you just sit there and look at them when they ask where they can get help?

Well I had the opportunity of reaching out to someone like this a few months ago. And I am a shamed to admit that I did the above. I just stood there and looked at them, as I answered their question. I am very ashamed at myself. Ever since that time, I have had a lot of "should of's" going through my mind. I hate "should of's" because I know that they are just an opportunity that is gone and I missed. I hate them but to I'm also thankful for them. I'm thankful because they help me learn that I must grab any chance I have to hold out love to someone. It just may be the saving of their precious lives. "Love much...Care lots...reach out with compassion."

So  amidst all the terrible, negative things that are raging our country and other countries, isn't it special to listen to the birds sing, watch the full moon send shadows across the lawn, watch the sunset and the sunrise color the eastern and western horizons.  Isn't it special to listen to soft music, wave to your neighbor, hold a child's hand, and pet the head of a puppy. Isn't it special to run under the bright open skies, feel the sun on our face, put a smile on the face of a lonely little mother, hug your best friend.

Isn't it special to  "Love much...Care lots...reach out with compassion"


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