Have you ever taken one word and written around it, going out on a limb, so to speak, and touch upon several meanings and avenues you can take it?  It is amazing how you can use the word. 

Today, I chose the word: “DEDICATION”.   I was trying to think of a word that would be smart and sassy, or maybe warm and sweet.  A word that covers a spectrum, that would make us think of all nature’s colors, which in fall are beautiful and plentiful. 

So where does “dedication” come in? First of all, we think of the soldiers and dedication to country.  His or her dedication is uppermost in our minds and the ultimate in giving is theirs, even to make the supreme sacrifice.

Then, there is the dedicated spouse who bends over backwards for his or her loved one.  When my husband worked at Ft. Meade Hospital, he met several couples, where the lady was pushing her mate in his wheel chair.  It kind of reminds us of the fact that women tend to live longer than their husbands.  They are dedicated, even when they have difficulty walking themselves.  The love and dedication to one another is readily apparent as they caefully maneuver the wheel chairs down the corridors.

Then, there is dedication in another direction.  Dedication to prayer in one’s own special way.  I am thinking of my brother-in-law and his devotion.  People often wondered why he would  carry a pocket full of round, smooth pebbles, as he took his daily walks.  No one asked him what he was doing as he dropped one after another on the roadway until someone heard him talking to himself, but was it talking to himself?  No, he was praying!

This humble guy also, spent his leisure time making rosaries, which are used in prayer to the Blessed Lady, Jesus’ mother.  His rosaries of beads traveled far and wide.  He gave them away as rapidly as he made them.  I have one, which I treasure.  Such “dedication” knows no bounds.  It was his simple ministry and it lasted until he passed on. 

DEDICATION travels a gamut of directions.  Until I thought of it, I didn’t realize how so very many directions it can be taken.  It is warm, it can be something of a gentle direction,  something so great it causes us to search high and low for its boundaries, but there are none.  One’s dedication can be a spiritual endeavor.  I know of a devout lady who brings Communion to a young lady, every day without fail, making the recipient feel stronger, serene, and blessed.

We often hear of teachers dedication to their students.  We have heard of them going out of their way to bring the best out of students who have difficulties in learning.  I am reminded of Speech Pathologists who work with the children needing help the most.  Next week, I will write about one of them whose devotion knows no bounds.  She is totally dedicated to her young charges.

So on it goes!  DEDICATION is a nice sounding word.  When we speak it, it gives us cause to want to take its meaning and take it on a journey, seeking those dedicated to untold causes.  THINK ABOUT IT!  You, too, will think of the word DEDICATION  as a word that can best be described as BEAUTIFUL.  YES, BEAUTIFUL!

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