Watching Someone You Love Suffer

“Watching someone you love suffer can teach you even more than suffering yourself can.” -Dodie Smith

It is so difficult to watch someone you love suffer. You would give anything to help take their pain away, yet there is only so much you can do. First you focus on the logistical things you can do…drive them to a doctor…make them a meal…give them their medications…put a pillow under their head…come up with things to try and distract them from their misery… But then you are hit with this reality that as hard as you are trying to make them more comfortable they are still in pain. And when you look in their eyes you can literally see how much pain they are in and it hurts to see…it rips your heart out to the point you’d literally rather take their pain on yourself than watch them suffer.

Tonight I feel drained both physically, from a long day of loading a wheelchair in and out of the car to transport my father-in-law to his multiple medical appointments, and emotionally, from the pain of seeing someone I love suffer. That pain only deepens when I feel of my mother-in-law and my husband’s hurt and worry they are going through too.

If suppose if nothing else hurt does serve to remind us how much we love and value one another, and it certainly deepens our appreciation of those we love. But how wonderful would it be if all of us could do a better job of appreciating those we love when things are going good!

Don’t wait for someone to be hurting to recognize how much they mean to you – go out of your way now to show them how much you love them and appreciate having them in your life.

~Amy Rees Anderson (author of the book “What Awesome Looks Like: How To Excel in Business & Life” )

2 Comments

  • Erin says:

    Agree 100%. It’s easy to forget the good times when there isn’t rain.

  • Yasmine says:

    I have sadness in my heart seeing my brother destroying himself he abused drugs he is homeless everyone is shanting him. He is totally disregulated and full of pain that turned to anger and frustration. He lost an eye he has a damaged foot and hand from accidents. All I can do is say a kind word and make him a cup of coffee when he asks.

Leave a Reply to Erin Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.