I was at nursing home today to visit someone. At one point I was taken into a room of a man that really stuck in my mind. He was on various tubes going in and out of his body with some other stuff. As I tried to make conversation with him I realized his long frame and that he appeared to be quite tall and muscular despite his situation. I wondered to myself how long he had been that way, what had brought him to that point, etc.

Then I got a view of the bulletin board on the wall. I never should have looked at the wall. On it were several pictures of him in what appeared to have been another life on another planet. Standing straight and tall with his arms around several people that appeared likely to be his teen/adult kids and wife. Some pictures he was in a suit, others in plaid. There were some pictures of small children, I assumed his grand kids. And then the picture of a beautiful middle aged woman I assumed his wife from the other pictures. Mingled among the pictures were various greeting cards. I read on one that said "get well soon" for "Dad." I fought hard to choke back tears.

Ladies in particular might get this. For me, there is nothing better, more masculine and handsome than a family man. So many times it seems we're in short supply these days of good family men. Yet here was this gentleman who appeared so devoted and so loved by his family. He appeared to have been so full of life, and a full life at that. It reminded me of that song, "You should have seen it in color." And yet through some happening, be it accident, debilitating illness, what I do not know, he was reduced to this level of even breathing at the mercy of someone else.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no way suggesting his life in its current state has less value than the one on the wall. In many ways his life is more valuable in that he is among God's most helpless. It is for us believers to minister to the best of our abilities to people such as this gentleman. But so very, horribly sad nonetheless.

While in his room feeling teary-eyed I did what any rational person would. I gave myself a "self-talk." I told myself, "Suck it up you sissy, you can cry outside." Once out I did have to have a good cry. It was too profound a moment to get beyond it. But I'm glad it did affect me. As a nurse in training I hope I never forget every client I see has a life. Some lives will be different than others, but they all matter. Just like the lives I saw in the bed and on the wall.