I feel bad when people are hurting.
I think I have empathy because I know what it's like to be teased. To be judged.
One of my friends killed himself last weekend.
I can't imagine what he felt, how he struggled, what was going through his mind. I have no idea.
I have no idea what his family feels right now. All I know is that it's pretty bad.
I know that whatever he was feeling that night, he was struggling to get away from it. His bible was with him, passages were highlighted that give some clue of what he was asking God.
In the end, the depression -- or whatever it was -- won.
Is it empathy to be annoyed with people for saying things like:
"All he had to do was reach out and we could have helped him"
"Why did he do it?"
"Nothing could be that bad."
"He was a Christian, how could he?"
I know we all grieve differently. I know we are all sad -- and mad -- that this happened to our friend.
I just can't help feeling that people are judging him. And it makes me angry. Is that empathy?
KK, I hope you are OK now.
There are many things I could reply to that, but then I would end up publishing my life story. All I can say is that I send you my best condolences.
ReplyDeleteCondolences to you, Mary, on the loss of your friend. I can't imagine the pain he went through and, now his family, must be going through. My prayers are with him and his family through this extremely difficult time.
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