Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My daughter just called.  Her baby is teething and totally miserable.  I had no tricks up my sleeve.  All I can do is listen and offer for her to come here for a change of pace.  Come to think of it, mostly, with the people I love all I can do is listen.  Last night I talked to my best friend, and she's in agony over a muscle in her knee, and won't be able to have a cortisone shot for a week.  I wish I could alleviate the pain, but I can't.  Sending a get a well card won't cut it.  But I can talk it out and she knows I'm hoping and praying it will get better.  This injury was probably from our trip together, and the walking was too much for her.  It was challenging for me as well, but at least my knee didn't totally collapse, as it did in January.  It doesn't take much at our age.  We have so much fire and energy and curiousity, but the body won't cooperate.  And even a baby's body can do bad things:  like sore gums and wanting to stuff the contents of the toy chest in your mouth.  We can be sympathetic, and sit next to them on the journey, but we can't stop the train.