"I'm sure you are trying your best"
Would you say that if I had cancer? Or a broken leg?
Would you be expecting me to try my best? As if I'm wallowing? Yes I am trying my best. That isn't the answer to this though.
"At least you have your friends to cheer you up"
Yes. I still have a few friends unafraid to talk to me. I don't need cheering up. I am clinically depressed, not on my period!
"That's ok"
As if I have something to apologise for. I'm sick. I am sorry that I am not around as much but assuming I am sorry during every conversation doesn't help my feelings of inadequacy.
"When you are well you will see this is for the best"
Maybe. Not particularly helpful to have the We are right, you are wrong conversation just now though. Perhaps I will feel differently, perhaps you have just been jerks and I won't!
"People are only agreeing with you because they want to keep you happy"
This was followed by "I don't mean to discourage you" Believe it or not some people see my point of view. Some people are honest with me and don't just tell me what I want to hear. Some people know all the facts and still validate the way I feel because my opinion matters too.
More helpful suggestions.
I love you even though you are sick.
I will always be here to listen.
You matter.
This isn't forever.
How can I help?
We haven't forgotten about you.
Pretty much exactly 5 months after my last church attendance I returned today. Since my last time I had only seen 3 people from the congregation face to face. People who live in my town. Who I've seen at least twice a week for years, I'd seen so few of them. Children had grown. Newborn babies now starting to move. Barely bumps now earth side. There were a few new faces too. We decided to go today because we had been invited for Sunday lunch by a couple from church. The sweet, kind hearted, godly doctor who was on duty the weekend I was first taken to hospital. I didn't give myself a choice this morning. I'd set up an excuse not to go for lunch already. Our car was broken. It was true, it was, but I knew it would be fixed in time to go. So I got up and we went. I'd spoken with my counsellor about not feeling it was my home any longer. That I wasn't part of the fellowship anymore. That physically I didn't know where to sit. Our usual seats, middle,front, with ...
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