We don't know…
June 19th, 2008
What do we say, or do, when we feel the need to say, or do, something – we’d like it to be significant or profound, but we just don’t know what’s right, and we’re afraid we’ll say the wrong thing, or do the wrong thing! Even for those of us who’ve been through a lot… even we don’t know what to say, or do, for others to express our love for them – to let them know we care – to let them know we hurt too – to let them know we hate that they hurt – and the list goes on… You know… I think the best we can do is keep it simple… perhaps a longer than usual handshake, eye contact… perhaps a card that simply says ‘thinking of you’… perhpas a delivered rosebud (no visit, just the delivery)… perhaps an email… etc. etc. Do, or say, something! But don’t say, or do, the wrong thing! Play it smart. Don’t use words like ‘I know’, ’I understand’, ‘you must’, ‘I’m sure’… I believe it’s better to use words like ‘I’m thinking of you’, ‘I’m praying for you’ (but only if you really are!!!), ‘I love you’, ‘I remember’… you could even drop off (no uninvited, unexpected visits) a watered filled Dr. Pepper bottle with a home-grown flower in it with a little handwritten note, which reads ‘thinking of you. love, (whoever)’ – it need not be fancy, but it must be genuine. Did you get that – it must be genuine! And don’t write it like you’re in a hurry – write it in such a way that makes it look like you took your time – like you wanted to give of yourself, your time - not like you’re rushing out to do something more important. (I may sound like I’m mad – I am, or at least some of the kinds of things about which I just wrote have made me mad at some point, but no… I’m not mad – not now – it’s more like I’m on my soapbox or something.) You know… I think the most important thing is #1; remember, #2; let ‘em know you remember, and #3; in a personal way, make ‘em feel special!
