Friday, May 15, 2009

Witnessing the Sadness

Sometimes it's the hardest thing ... to watch someone you love be in pain and hurt by another human being. We feel helpless as our loved one suffers humiliation, sadness, heartache, and disappointment at the hands of someone they once loved. The helplessness comes from having no control. We can do nothing to change the outcome for them.

Oh sure - we fantasize about confronting the person causing the harm, twisting their nose and telling them the fault of their ways (using lots of words that require #%#^$), berating them for the pain they have caused. We dream of telling them that size does matter. But when it is all said and done what- if anything - will be accomplished - save for few moments of therapeutic venting? Nothing will have changed.

It's ugly to witness and I suppose harder to be the object of the wrath and hatred. Better to put your empathy hat on and offer two loving arms and soft place for your loved one to fall. Sometimes it's the best we can do. Sometimes it all we can do.

1 comment:

  1. Such great truth. There were definite days during my recent heart ache/heart break that two loving arms, a kind and listening ear, and a gentle voice to provide that still reminder that "time heals all wounds."

    I love this posting.

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