Several years ago, when I was terribly ill, I had times when I felt so worthless; like such a burden to my family, and estranged from the world. My daughter, Lydia, sat with me and pulled out an old photo album. She began showing me my worth through the pictures of a small portion of my life. She helped me to gently reminisce about the things I had done in my life. It brings tears to my eyes even now, to remember her tenderness and the gentle reminder that my life had been worthwhile living, and that because of the past, I still had many reasons to go on living.
Sometimes, in times of severe trauma, it is helpful to just sit with the traumatized person and ask them about their lives. To sit and listen is a gift to the bone weary; to the one who feels she can't go on. We train dogs to be healing companions to the ill. They often just show up to sit with the sick person or lay at their feet. Each of us are able to serve at least as well as a dog.
Job 2:13 So they sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, no one spoke even a word to him, for they saw that his grief was great.
Something to think about, and be willing to do when the situation dictates.
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