One of the greatest gifts we can give each other is to be a place holder.
Whether this gift is related to a specific situation or is representative of an
ongoing commitment, we each benefit from the association. To protect someone is
to walk with them in challenging times and see them through safely to the other
side. In doing this, we grow with them. And those under our guardianship derive
confidence from our support and assistance, enabling them to persevere through
almost any conditions.
There are many reasons we feel inspired to serve those we care for. Sometimes
just holding the space for somebody allows them to do what is necessary to grow
or heal. We may simply want to see that our friend or loved one is taken care
of and equipped to prevail over difficult circumstances. We may also sense that
we are in possession of knowledge our loved ones are lacking yet need in their
current stage of development. Our offer to serve as a guardian may also be both
unsolicited and unrelated to any one situation. Instead of helping someone we
care about cope with a specific challenge, we may find ourselves providing them
with a more general form of emotional sustenance that prepares and strengthens
them for challenges yet to come.
Our ability to empathize with those in need is our greatest asset because our
comprehension of their needs allows us to determine how we can best serve them.
Even when this comprehension is limited, however, the loving intentions with
which we enter into our role as guardian ensure that our care and protection
help others grow as individuals while living their lives with grace.
No comments:
Post a Comment