Processing Pain

There was nothing I could say
There was nothing I could do
I could only sit
And watch
And pray
And listen
And promise my prayers
For tomorrow and the next day and the next…

Had there been no chaplain present
There would have been no one who could offer
The supportive Presence of Christ.
It is a privilege
And a sacred honor.

I am a waiting room attendant.
I am a giver of hugs.
I am a listening Presence.
I am a guide.
I can do nothing.
I can not fix the pain
But I can look through the window
Of their pain —
Of the past and the difficult present
That they find themselves in —
And offer hope for the future.

What more can I do
Except to look heavenward,
Trust in the God who loves me
And hug my family before they go to sleep.

5 comments

  1. Being present with another, holding their pain and suffering in silence and in prayer, is one of the most important gifts “we” bring. I’m sure you are doing more than you even know….

    Like

  2. Hello: I just started on WordPress last week, and somehow just found your page.
    You have been writing quite a bit. WordPress has been up longer than I thought.
    Your writing is touching my heart and confirming some of my recent entries.
    You have a very nice spirit about you. I’ll continue to look over some more of your writing and just thought I’d mention to you to look at some of mine, to compare
    notes. I’m working on writing a book, but I’ve been a pen and paper writer for
    twenty years and have to extract, while also composing new wine. Be blessed,
    Mark

    Like

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