What You’re Going Through…I Care

This past two weeks’ events have tried to turn my world upside down, and I have had to maintain a sense of normalcy during it all – grocery shopping, interacting with others, home chores, all the while working on autopilot as I processed the best- and worst-case scenarios. Tears have threatened at the least little thing! And these little things might have had no bearing on the events, but still affected my attempt to keep it together, to be strong for the others around me who needed or expected it.

And then I thought about all of those people who have had to deal with me in this state; the grocery store, post office, and department store people. The people on the street who greeted me. The people in my church who had no idea what is going on. Ah, and my family and friends too.

And then I thought about what all of those others are going through but still showing up to help me – the cashiers, the greeters, the ones on the phone, answering my questions or taking my payments, or the ones standing beside me in church, worshiping with me, all the while going through their own dramas. And for that matter, my family and friends too, going through things they may not want to share.

So today, I’m going to try to ‘see’ those around me, ask the “How are you doing” question, and truly listen for the answer. Because sometimes we need to know that someone out there truly cares about what we are going through. And if you’re out there and I happen to ask you the question, feel free to tell me. Because I care.