day sixty-four: referred pain
Today a neighbor (that I think is as distinguished and genuine as any man has a right to be) came over to visit my convalescing son.As he stood beside boy #3's bed during our visit he shared with us an experience he had years ago. He was using a paper cutter to destroy some old check books when he accidentally sliced the very tip of his left thumb off. The weird thing was that he immediately felt pain in his right thumb. His right thumb. We stood there after he told the story, for just a few seconds, and thought about the implications of that.
I felt like that other thumb this week when I heard about my son's accident. Let me take the pain. I can handle it.
I feel this way when I know my husband has hit a spot that is especially tough for him. Or when my African son has gotten sick, so far away.
That referred pain in my life has been a sign to me that I love someone. It is an echo echo echo of the pain that He felt for us hundreds of years ago, kneeling in a garden. We copy it. We emulate it. We feel it.
10 comments
I loved this post. Great reminder to all of His love.
Excellent and well written metaphor, my friend.
"When, for the moment, we ourselves are not being stretched on a particular cross, we ought to be at the foot of someone else’s — full of empathy and proffering spiritual refreshment." --Neal A Maxwell
For as long as I have known you, you have been a great example of this.
This is so true. I hate to see those I love hurting and feel it would be easier for me to hurt for them, especially my children.
I think this is our nature. Not to see those we love in pain. We learned this from the best..
very beautiful.
What a beautiful reflection of our divine nature, Karen. And how important it is to remember...
Beautifully said.
It's so true. I feel it all the time.
Goose bumps!
Oh, how did i miss this one? Love it! I also love Luann's comment.
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