11.11.2006
silent suffering
I was reminded tonight of the silent suffering going on in the hearts and minds of the kids I see every week.
Why do they think they need to carry their burdens alone? What are we not doing to make them feel safe enough to lay it down?
Unless I ask, they will not tell me. Well, they ARE telling me, only I can't see it yet.
Tonight I asked.
Tonight, I'm glad I didn't yield to a voice telling me I'm being too nosy. I'm glad I asked. Glad I was able to offer at least a prayer for the circumstances.
There was one kid, brave enough to verbalize his burden. He's been suffering silently for a while now. Tonight he acknowledged his need to lay his burden down. I told him when he's ready, we'll be there.
I wish I could do more.
Why do they think they need to carry their burdens alone? What are we not doing to make them feel safe enough to lay it down?
Unless I ask, they will not tell me. Well, they ARE telling me, only I can't see it yet.
Tonight I asked.
Tonight, I'm glad I didn't yield to a voice telling me I'm being too nosy. I'm glad I asked. Glad I was able to offer at least a prayer for the circumstances.
There was one kid, brave enough to verbalize his burden. He's been suffering silently for a while now. Tonight he acknowledged his need to lay his burden down. I told him when he's ready, we'll be there.
I wish I could do more.
posted by The Secret of Happiness @ 1:08 AM
2 Comments:
At 11.11.06,
Kathy said…
prayer is probably the most effective thing you can do...next is listening...you did both.
At 16.11.06,
Stephanie said…
yes... when I talk with kids and it starts to get personal, I wonder if I'm prodding into their personal lives too much, so I always preface my questions with, "you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but..." And I've never had a kid who decides they don't want to share. Those kids are lucky to have you in their life!
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