One year after my mother passed away, I began my service as a caregiver at St. Vincent’s Home, a nursing home. Although I had prior experience in such a setting, I was not yet a certified caregiver. Back then, I only assisted with basic tasks, such as diaper care. Returning now with certification, I found myself once again in a season of learning—step by step, day by day.

Not long after I started, I met an elderly woman who would leave a lasting mark on my heart. In those early days, I made many mistakes. There were moments when I lost my balance while transferring her from the wheelchair to bed. She would simply smile and teasingly say, “Why are you so weak?”—her gentle humor easing my embarrassment.

During mealtimes, I assisted her, and in those quiet moments, I witnessed her warmth. She often spoke with her daughter on the phone, her voice filled with love. She never failed to express gratitude, frequently saying, “Thank you,” even for the simplest acts of care.

One day, while I was attending to her as usual, she said softly, “May I hold your hand for a moment?” Without hesitation, I said, “Yes, of course,” and reached out to her. Then, gently and sincerely, she said, “I missed you.” Those words caught me by surprise. My heart was deeply moved. In that moment, it felt as if my own mother—whom I had lost not long before—was speaking to me. Even now, when I remember that day, my eyes fill with tears.

As time passed, her strength gradually declined. Later, I learned that she had been transferred to another hospital, where she eventually passed away. Yet, I continue to remember her vividly—not in her frailty, but in her kindness and grace.

Through this woman—who showed me love despite my shortcomings, and who expressed gratitude in the smallest acts of care—I came to recognize God’s love more deeply in my own life.

I pray that all the elderly entrusted to our care may remain comfortable and at peace, until the day they are gently embraced in God’s loving arms.