Help a friend or family member face a difficult situation.
Level: Family—Peace Principle: Cooperation
This week’s featured story came in from Silver Spring, MD, USA:
In 1975 my husband and I lost two children, in two separate disasters. The second time I wanted to move away, but we had to stay where we were and allow people to grieve with us. I felt raw, sore to the touch. They tell me I kept my composure. Neighbors and friends brought food and flowers and gathered around to support us. Of all the kindnesses we received, one stays in my mind almost 35 years later.
This woman had been our oldest son’s teacher the year before. We didn’t know her well. She came to the door, and she sat with us. She probably accepted a cup of tea, but it was clear that we didn’t have to do anything for her or even make conversation. Just her way of being there was comforting, healing and soothing in a way that nothing else was. I have never forgotten the way she brought peace into our house, just by being who she was.
Many years later, when she retired from teaching, I had a chance to tell her how much her presence had meant. I hope and pray that I have been that kind of presence for someone else, in the years since then, or that I still will be.
~Mary Liepold, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Mary,
I’m not sure who “About the Author” – Liora Herman is? Did you write the article about losing 2 of your children in 1975?
I just got word tonight that my old neighbor, Ginger, her grandson, Eric, 22, died of his injuries in a car accident that happened two weeks ago-July 13th. Both my daughters had babysat for Eric.I will try to be a calming peaceful presence for Ginger. Thank you for sharing your experience of grief.
About seven weekes into my first pregnancy, I was told that the baby no longer had a heart beat and that it should pass from me soon. A few days after this doctor appointment, I began to feel the pains of miscarriage. I sent my husband to the pharmacy to get some pain medication. While he was gone, a friend stopped by to drop off some cookies and a card. While she was there, the miscarriage was actually happening, yet I was able to distract myself from the pain because of her presence. I carried on conversation and ignored the pain. Had she not been there, alone I would have focused on the event at hand. I know it would have been much harder. I did not tell her until later and she said she felt bad that she bothered me. She absolutely was not a bother but a blessing. Us women have a sweet gift of being able to comfort others. If we listen to our intuition, we may be able to help another even if its just our presence that’s needed.
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