She was a frail elderly woman. Delicate but graceful. I noticed that she was slightly breathless as she was explaining her symptoms. After examination and the necessary explanation, I extended the OPD slip with the prescription to her. While taking it from me, she placed her hands on my head and chanted a few words of blessings. This would have shocked me some time back, especially when my grip on the language was poor. But these days I am used to this gesture by the elderly patients who visit us. I realize that there is nothing else they can offer us. So, they give us something priceless- a phrase of blessing.
A word of blessing. Something the elderly seem to be very happy to bestow. I have no idea if she will benefit from the medications I have prescribed. I have wondered if the blessings can be reversed if there is no relief! Can a blessing uttered be converted later to a curse? I sure hope not!
The gesture of blessing. I remember my days as a medical student. We had a medicine professor who always went the extra mile to comfort his patients. He used to talk to the elderly like they were little children. He would place his hand in their hand or over their shoulder and spend a while asking them how they were feeling, irrespective of the detailed history his postgraduates or juniors would have presented him. Give them an extra minute of your time and they will be really grateful; Sir had taught us. Perhaps that additional minute could transform into a precious breath of blessing and be saved in the treasury of eternity.
Nothing but Grace 