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An Affirmation of Those Who Care for Others
I believe in the power and the beauty of self-forgetful love
And further I believe it shows itself right in our midst.
It is offered by family members and by friends
By volunteers and by professionals alike, as they tenderly care for those who
suffer illness, injury, or incapacitation.
I believe this unassuming selflessness comes to life each time someone looks
after another, despite feeling winded or weary;
Each time someone manages countless caregiving details, all in addition to their
other daily obligations; each time someone performs duties of care freely out of
love that others would not perform for a much higher price.
I believe these openhearted spirits are a model for all of us.
For they show us the potential of what life can be:
In quietly persevering with another life can be vitalized and expanded.
In patiently witnessing what another is experiencing, life can be deepened and
ennobled.
And in lovingly accepting how the other is coping, life can be strengthened and
enriched.
I believe that in their learning, we are taught.
We are taught that remaining faithfully with another who suffers is more than an
act of compassion—it is a ritual of healing.
We are taught that reaching out to another who feels isolated and alone is more
than a bridge of comfort—it is a sacrament of communion.
We are taught that relating to the other as a person of infinite value
is more than an article of faith—it is the lived experience of sacredness.
We know that because others have shared themselves openly, and life is not the
same: not for them, not for us, and especially not for those who are bathed in
this generous care.
—James E. Miller
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