I believe that each individual loves in a different way and
that how we love is learned from the people we are surrounded by. I for one feel lucky that I have some of the
most caring people as parents. I have
watched my mom over the years take her vow to my father ‘in sickness and in
health’ very seriously. As my father
struggled with continual medical problems stemming from a fall off a ladder and
broken leg my mother was with him every step of the way. She was with him through the 11 successive surgeries
and the many complications that followed.
I have watched her love with no restriction and without question take it
upon herself to nurse him back to health just as I am sure my father did when
she was recovering from breast cancer years ago.
I again experienced this kind of love recently with my
grandmother. We moved my maternal
grandmother to Chico
after my grandfather passed about seven years ago. She was never fond of the idea of moving, but
we finally convinced her it was in her best interest. At the time my siblings and I were not
incredibly close with her. We only saw her on rare visits, but fortunately
we were able to get to know her once she moved closer to us. My mother and my grandmother had somewhat of
a strained relationship, but my mother did what she could to care for her
mother as best she knew, once again with no hesitation. Recently, she would spend her days going over
to her mother’s house to help her with daily activities like eating and
showering.
I remember my father and my grandmother struggled to agree
with each other when I was growing up.
They attempted to bond over the small things they had in common like
drinking their black coffee and having similar political views. I know they may have had their issues, but it
was touching to watch my father doing all he could to fight for my grandmother,
in her final days, to have the best medical care possible. He never once stopped to think about the
times they may not have seen eye to eye but instead showed his love by fighting
for her to get everything she needed.
Sometimes people can make it hard for us to love them and
sometimes it is hard to understand how people show their love.
Each individual is different.
As we continue to go through my grandmothers
personal affects we are shown the ways she loved us.
She kept nearly every letter any of us had ever
written her and spent the few extra dollars she had donating to the Olympic
Committee in support of my dreams.
As I get older and continue to learn about myself and the
people around me I feel fortunate that I learned how to love from my parents.
I can only hope that when put in similar situations
I am able to love as unconditionally as they have.
