As it's Christmas Eve I wanted to share a little story of kindness with you.
This may be the greatest singular act of kindness I have ever witnessed.
And I don't even remember the woman's name to give her due credit.
***
In February of 2004 my sister entered a hospice to end her days.
She bucked all expectations and went home - she just wasn't ready.
Turns out she had 10 days more in her and wanted to go home.
While she was in that hospice I befriended a nurse.
This nurse and I bonded and oddly enough we shared a bundle of laughs.
One evening I saw her come in for work but I couldn't find her.
After a while I began poking my head into the rooms.
Eventually I found her in a chair reading to an old woman in her bed.
The room was awash in candlelight and seemed very peaceful.
The nurse looked up at me and shook her head suggesting, "Not now."
A couple hours later she came to me a little subdued.
I asked her if she was ok. She responded, "Yes."
Then she explained, "I promised her daughter that she wouldn't die alone."
I asked, "Did she..." She stopped me with a little nod of her head.
There was not a hug tight enough to thank her for her service.
Hospices nurses are as close to angels as you can find here on earth.
I learned that that weekend. And will never forget it.
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