I recently walked onto the Oncology unit floor at GAMC and asked one of the nurses:

“Quick! What is the inspirational word of the day?” He quickly said “love – it’s all you need.”

As I went from room to room with my Gems of Joy jar, I sat with each patient while they chose their favorite gem and asked them:

“What does love mean to you?”

They all said respect and unconditional acceptance.  One person’s story was incredibly moving.

“My partner recently died from stomach cancer.  I had the power of attorney to make decisions on his behalf.  After watching him decline without hope of surviving, my act of love was letting him go.  The hardest thing I had to do, but because I love and respect him, I wanted him to be out of pain and in peace.  I know he is looking down at me, helping me with my own health challenges.”

That is love.