“Love the whole world as a mother loves her only child.” ~ Buddha~
I reflected fondly as I read Kari Huus’ article of Edwarda and Kaye O’Bara of Florida.
Wednesday, Edwarda O’Bara died after 42 years in a coma. Joe and Kaye O’Bara cared for Edwarda until their deaths; Joe died in 1976 and Kaye in 2008. Edwarda’s sister, Colleen O’Bara, cared for her sister during the remaining four years.
The only reason I knew of the O’Baras’ was because of Dr Wayne Dyer’s book entitled “A Promise Is A Promise: An Almost Unbelievable Story of a Mother’s Unconditional Love and What It Can Teach Us”. Basically until her own death, Kaye O’Bara kept her promise to never leave her daughter. She fed her daughter every two hours and given her insulin every four hours, without fail! In fact, Kaye O’Bara slept next to her daughter in a chair.
In quoting Wayne Dyer:
“Kaye knows that she is not alone. She knows that her daughter is also participating in the way that she has chosen. This knowing has permitted Kaye to serve unconditionally for over a quarter of a century, and it has made visible the divine intervention of the Holy Family.
But even more than this is the fact that all of us who read of Kaye’s devotion and unflappable service are enriched immeasurable.
In the context of love being the art of giving and asking nothing in return, we are all assured that this kind of love is not just for fiction writers or reserved for those who have been deified. This kind of love is here and now. It is taking place among us, while the rest of us go about the business of our daily lives.”
One of the greatest forms of love can be considered in that of a mother for her child. In its spiritualized form, love can draw its inspiration from either the child or the mother. Yet the spiritual love that looks for guidance to the love of a mother for her child uplifts itself to the ideal of the pure fount of all safety, welfare and spiritual health. It is this latter kind which the Buddha takes as the basis for his teaching of universal love.
Kaye O’Bara challenges us to constantly remind ourselves to be rid of afflictions, to treat everyone with respect and gratitude, and to shower the world with great love together.
Our deepest need is to find the look of love beaming back at us. As long as we feel this, we are better able to love ourselves and others. When you can shine, simply by speaking of another and the touch of a hand is very powerful. It is in these moments of communion that touch us all.