Sisters!
For many years, I have loved this poem by Emily Dickinson:
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain
I think this aptly applies to those of us who take on the role of caregiving. This has been a comfort to me, when I have felt that life was passing me by and when I become frustrated, tired and angry. What I am doing has value.
And I recently came across another quote which really hit home:
“I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough”. –Nicholas Sparks, from his novel, “The Notebook.”
Isn’t it enough to have loved and to have eased one pain?
Wow, Karen! This is wonderful! Thank you so much for writing something that is both inspiring and affirming what we do.
Karen,
Thank you for sharing this. It is enough, I just wish it felt like it was…everyday.(:
I’m so glad we have this site and each other to remind us of what is really important.
Hi Karen–I love the poem and the quote. Reminds us that a “common” life is actually quite spectacular. And, I love the photo of the sisters.
I love that photo,too, of Mom and Aunt Peggy. It mirrors pictures of them taken as young girls–leaning on each other.
Karen,
Thank you for sharing these beautiful words.
I think the common life sounds pretty wonderful.
There are a great many monuments of people I know of and never heard of before.
But these people , no matter what they did or accomplished only reside in my head.
It’s the people that reached out and loved me. The ones I have an affection for in my heart. The ones I love back that make the common life extraordinarily good
Beautiful, Karen! Beautfiul!