I Understand

Sometimes, we just want someone to understand. We don’t need platitudes or sermons. We don’t want someone to fix everything. We don’t even really want to commiserate. We just want someone to walk through it with.

Whatever your ‘it’ is. Many people I know have suffered terrible abuse, child sexual abuse, significant losses or health and function, some trauma from accidents, and others the trauma of abortion. Life is full of loss and pain at times.

It is also full of joy and fulfillment at other times. There are always twists and turns hills and valleys. Life is our one shot, our one chance to make a difference is given to each of us. We are the ones who make it count. Regardless of what life deals us, we choose how we respond. We decide how we come through.

I do understand loss and pain. I also understand joy and fulfillment. I don’t get how some people don’t extend that understanding to others. They are hard and cold toward the difficulties others face. They take no account of what might be going on with people.

Everyone is going through this life with all of it’s variables. When I am especially lonely or begin to feel sorry for myself, I reach out to someone who has been in tough circumstances and offer them encouragement. It is one way I cope with loss.

I’m not reveling in their pain. I genuinely try to help them think through what’s happening and try to find solutions or ask our Heavenly Father to step into their situation and take care of them.

This life is so short. It seems like the days and long and slow, but the years go by fast.

Who is it that you could reach out to? Who could you celebrate your good news with? Is there a family member or coworker that seems to have dropped off the face of the earth?

How can you help someone dealing with the anniversary of trauma?

Sometimes, just reaching out with some form of communication to let them know someone cares, makes all the difference in the world.

What do you do when you’re down?