valorous idylls chapter 15

A Man's Life What Is It

The rosary through the night again.
Sleeping a bit.
Not able to dwell on the prayers as before.
In the morning a young man with a classic Dublin accent does the rounds giving sponge baths to the patients.
His name is Paul.
Some he brings to the bathroom.
Most of them he manages to clean in their beds.
He is patient and kind, discreet and careful.
He speaks reassuring well chosen words, takes an interest in the person, lets the interaction take whatever time it takes.
He never forgets each patient is a person.
Each person has his full attention, before he quietly and efficiently takes his leave and moves on to the next one.
I address the creator of the universe briefly: "Lord that man does more good in a morning's work than I have done in my whole life."