The Gift

I have a gift. I did not want this gift, it meant suffering and pain. The pain came because of love. A love which had manifested itself in a child. The child brought its love to me and asked for my love. Sometimes I did not understand this. Sometimes I did not appreciate it. Sometimes I was too busy to listen quietly to this love. But the love persisted; it was always there.

One day the child died. But the love remained. This time the love came in other forms. This time there were memories; there was sadness and anguish. And unbeleivable pain.

One day a stranger came and stood with me. The stranger listened and occasionally spoke. The stranger said "I understand", and did. You see the stranger had also been this way. We talked and cried together. The stranger touched me to comfort. The stranger became my friend as no other had. My friend said "I am always here", and was.

One day I lifted my head. I noticed another grieving, grey and drawn with pain. I approached and spoke. I touched and comforted. I said, "I will walk with you", and did.

I also had the gift.

author-Joe Lawley, is the co-founder parent of The Compassionate Friends.