Unconditional Love

There are countless ways to expression love, you have encountered many on many occasion in your life. This is my story:

It was a non-eventful beautiful sunny Sunday threes weeks shine of Christmas. I went to church as I normally would, I took my seat, preparing myself for the worship, before the choir started their roaring roof-breaking music. A family of three, a woman and her two young men came in sat down on the role before me. The boys were both teenagers (roughly 14 & 16). Although there was nothing extraordinary about them besides the absentee of an adult male, they looks like a normal family but there was an air surround them caught my attention, I knew something extraordinary is going to happen. Perhaps a miracle is about to begin?

First, they were a family more casually dressed than anyone else, more like going to the grocery store than church for Sunday service. That does not really matter, after all church is not a fashion show, and it is a place to worship, although some people like to use the opportunities to parade their fineries. Agree?

Not long after they settled in I saw the younger boy sitting between the woman and the older young man, starting to loose his patience. He leaned over to the older boy, touching his face his mouth, running his finger thru his hair, rubbing his head on his shoulder, reach over kissing him on his cheek and restlessly pursing attention. Any one else even with the best of patience would found that annoying, if that ever happened to you. I did not saw their face, from behind, I thought; OK they may be an alternative family, just showing affection, paid no attention to them.

Interestingly, the older boys did not seem to be bothered by the disturbances and the constant interruption of his worship. In multiple occasions he reached over gently caressing back the back of the younger man with tenderness and loving gestures. Next I saw the younger man put his hand around the older boy’s waist fully embraced his companion in full view. I found it a little uncomfortable this couple showing affection to each other so openly at church, still I try to concentrate on my worship, but there was no escape. Everyone else surrounding them also notice the action of these young men.

More amazingly the woman they came with seems to pay no attention on what was going on next to her. At some point the restless young man turn around, when our eyes met, I realized immediately that I was mistaken of the situation. He was a mentally challenged young man. His non-stop action of attention getting and annoying behavior were subconscious, beyond his control.

The young men were in fact brothers. Instantly my feeling toward the older brother turn to admiration of his courage, ignoring all judgments, ignorance disapproval, and opinion of everyone surrounded him. Can you imagine what he had to endure in his daily life with the superficial attitudes of schoolmates and his friends.

Nothing seems possible to deter this young man from his unselfish love and devotions to his younger brother. Helping him, caring for him in every demand he made. Along the way also clam him down from his behavior. He seems to be taking on a role as his younger brother’s keeper, a caretaker, while he, himself is at a very tender age. Upon the realization of the relationship, the scene touches my emotion beyond words. It’s been playing repeatedly in my head. I can’t imagine even an adult with the most patience, when confronted with such annoyance would not reaches a braking point. Especially there will be no end ever.

At the end of the service, I made a point to reach out to the young man thank and complimented him on the beautiful lesson I learn from him, instead, he refocus my attention to his little brother introducing him to me. At the same time I told their mother that the credit was on her to raise such incredible young men. She assures me that the brothers love each other. I cannot say I had ever witlessness such demonstration of love ever.

I like to take this holiday season share this miracle of a story with you. Wishing you also have a chance to encounter such selfish love in your life.

Chance Encounter Philadelphia.