Devotion

[SoNotHer]

I have been contemplating the nature of love and devotion lately and wondering what that looks like for some people.

How are you devoted?

How are two devoted?

What is the full measure of devotion?

[always2late]

I wrote this story in another thread..I think the thread was about what love looks like, or something along those lines. I think it can apply here to devotion as well.

Several years ago I worked on an Alzheimer/Dementia unit. One of my elderly patients was in the end stage of dementia, mentally she was completely gone, and she required total care. Her husband, Mr. C, would come to see her every day. He would arrive early in the morning to feed her breakfast and help get her ready for the day. He would sit with her, talk to her, read to her, wheel her around the facility and outside when the weather was good. After feeding her lunch, he would leave for about an hour to go home and eat...and then he would return and only leave again when she was put to bed. He would do this EVERY day. Keep in mind, his wife did not recognize him, or respond to him...mentally she was just not there. He and I used to talk and he told me the story of how they met...it was at a navy dance when they were both in their late teens...they met in January, he married her that June, and they were together since that time. One day, we had a blizzard, and a state of emergency was declared. Of course, I still had to go to work, but the police were actually stopping "unessential" cars on the road. I was sitting behind the nurse's station when Mr. C walked in...I could not believe it. I said "Mr. C...you shouldn't be out in this weather! What are you doing here??" He smiled and replied "Well, I couldn't just leave my girl alone, could I?"

To me...that is not just love, that is devotion. Love can be a bit selfish sometimes. We enjoy love, not just because of the way we feel about someone, but also because of how they make US feel and how they feel about us. Love is best when it is reciprocal. However, devotion is something different. It is giving even when there is no hope of return, remaining constant when there is nothing to gain. It's putting the happiness of someone else above your own, doing without being told, giving without being asked.

I've had love in my life...several times. I think we've all had love, been loved, given love and received it. I think in this life, we love and are loved many times...but true devotion...I think if we are lucky enough to find that, it only comes around once in a lifetime.

[Gaige]

Originally Posted by always2late

I wrote this story in another thread..I think the thread was about what love looks like, or something along those lines. I think it can apply here to devotion as well.

Several years ago I worked on an Alzheimer/Dementia unit. One of my elderly patients was in the end stage of dementia, mentally she was completely gone, and she required total care. Her husband, Mr. C, would come to see her every day. He would arrive early in the morning to feed her breakfast and help get her ready for the day. He would sit with her, talk to her, read to her, wheel her around the facility and outside when the weather was good. After feeding her lunch, he would leave for about an hour to go home and eat...and then he would return and only leave again when she was put to bed. He would do this EVERY day. Keep in mind, his wife did not recognize him, or respond to him...mentally she was just not there. He and I used to talk and he told me the story of how they met...it was at a navy dance when they were both in their late teens...they met in January, he married her that June, and they were together since that time. One day, we had a blizzard, and a state of emergency was declared. Of course, I still had to go to work, but the police were actually stopping "unessential" cars on the road. I was sitting behind the nurse's station when Mr. C walked in...I could not believe it. I said "Mr. C...you shouldn't be out in this weather! What are you doing here??" He smiled and replied "Well, I couldn't just leave my girl alone, could I?"

To me...that is not just love, that is devotion. Love can be a bit selfish sometimes. We enjoy love, not just because of the way we feel about someone, but also because of how they make US feel and how they feel about us. Love is best when it is reciprocal. However, devotion is something different. It is giving even when there is no hope of return, remaining constant when there is nothing to gain. It's putting the happiness of someone else above your own, doing without being told, giving without being asked.

I've had love in my life...several times. I think we've all had love, been loved, given love and received it. I think in this life, we love and are loved many times...but true devotion...I think if we are lucky enough to find that, it only comes around once in a lifetime.

excellent post.

[SoNotHer]

It's an exquisitely beautiful post, and it has made me smile inside and out. Thank you for starting the thread with such a special story.

Originally Posted by always2late

I wrote this story in another thread..I think the thread was about what love looks like, or something along those lines. I think it can apply here to devotion as well.

Several years ago I worked on an Alzheimer/Dementia unit. One of my elderly patients was in the end stage of dementia, mentally she was completely gone, and she required total care. Her husband, Mr. C, would come to see her every day. He would arrive early in the morning to feed her breakfast and help get her ready for the day. He would sit with her, talk to her, read to her, wheel her around the facility and outside when the weather was good. After feeding her lunch, he would leave for about an hour to go home and eat...and then he would return and only leave again when she was put to bed. He would do this EVERY day. Keep in mind, his wife did not recognize him, or respond to him...mentally she was just not there. He and I used to talk and he told me the story of how they met...it was at a navy dance when they were both in their late teens...they met in January, he married her that June, and they were together since that time. One day, we had a blizzard, and a state of emergency was declared. Of course, I still had to go to work, but the police were actually stopping "unessential" cars on the road. I was sitting behind the nurse's station when Mr. C walked in...I could not believe it. I said "Mr. C...you shouldn't be out in this weather! What are you doing here??" He smiled and replied "Well, I couldn't just leave my girl alone, could I?"

To me...that is not just love, that is devotion. Love can be a bit selfish sometimes. We enjoy love, not just because of the way we feel about someone, but also because of how they make US feel and how they feel about us. Love is best when it is reciprocal. However, devotion is something different. It is giving even when there is no hope of return, remaining constant when there is nothing to gain. It's putting the happiness of someone else above your own, doing without being told, giving without being asked.

I've had love in my life...several times. I think we've all had love, been loved, given love and received it. I think in this life, we love and are loved many times...but true devotion...I think if we are lucky enough to find that, it only comes around once in a lifetime.

[Hollylane]

My brain is completely withered at this moment, thus preventing me from posting more about how I view devotion.

I think this thread is wonderful. I will contribute a poem that I wrote, that I feel speaks a little to the topic, "Devotion", and how I feel about it.

Love That You Love Her

Do not feed off the passion and desire presented in the electric arc
Between fingertips and the ache of skin that is longing for your touch
Or that beats visibly at the base of an arched neck exposed for taking
Respond not to the love that shines within raised and adoring eyes
Nor partake selfishly of the unfettered offer that is given only to you
Unless your heart too, has broken with the beauty of all that is her,
And bleeds with motiveless need to show this lover your own affection

~Hollylane 10/24/11

[atomiczombie]

Devotion is wanting the very best for someone you love, even when you aren't it. It's never giving up on someone you believe in.

[Dude]

It's visiting your friend with Aids in a hospice house
when he has dementia so bad, he does not notice your there anymore.
6 months, everyday after work
no matter what

[Passionaria]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

I have been contemplating the nature of love and devotion lately and wondering what that looks like for some people.

How are you devoted?

How are two devoted?

What is the full measure of devotion?

If my heart feels it, I am very devoted. I love fierce, and make no apologies for it. And I get hurt. But at least I know that I lived what is true in my heart. Devotion to me is the act of acknowledging the sacredness of your connection. A prayer of love put to action. If two people live this truth for each other, their bond is taken out of the mundane to a place of true love, where magic abides, in my mind.

I guess there is a devotion to the love and truth of self first. And if we are lucky enough to meet someone, and each others hearts are your truth, devotion is the bond, the nourishment, the prayer you make to one another~ Also your protection.

[SoNotHer]

So incredibly well said... and beautiful.

Originally Posted by Passionaria

If my heart feels it, I am very devoted. I love fierce, and make no apologies for it. And I get hurt. But at least I know that I lived what is true in my heart. Devotion to me is the act of acknowledging the sacredness of your connection. A prayer of love put to action. If two people live this truth for each other, their bond is taken out of the mundane to a place of true love, where magic abides, in my mind.

I guess there is a devotion to the love and truth of self first. And if we are lucky enough to meet someone, and each others hearts are your truth, devotion is the bond, the nourishment, the prayer you make to one another~ Also your protection.