Surgery Blessings

I had a pretty big and difficult surgery last week, and have been plodding through a rather arduous recovery in the days following. I’ve not hardly been in the public eye since then, other than trips between hospital and home, and a few brief marathon efforts to participate in family activities. I’ve made attempts to clean up into pretty sundresses and lip gloss in lieu of the pajamas and heaps of pillows that have filled my recent days, but clearly I’m still sticking out like a wounded chicken. Or something.

Everywhere we have been, people have offered whatever they could to make things easier for me. They have cleared elevators for me; I believe I was crunched over in my wheelchair, hugging a pillow for dear life with tears streaming down my face when I heard a lady say, “you two go ahead, we’ve all been there.” People have called their children to move out of the way, given up seats, gifted anonymous flowers, held doors, and waited painstaking moments for me to take whatever time I needed.

This morning we waited at the end of the block near our house for our oldest daughter to march by in the holiday parade. Everyone was melting. The heat combined with the sickening humidity was almost enough to suck all the fun out of it. There I was in a crowd of sweltering people, and this tiny elderly woman came shuffling up to me and thrust a frosty red cup of ice water into my hand that she had walked back home to get just for me. I was almost speechless. It was such a selfless act, and I truly felt undeserving, especially considering all the miserably hot people around me. I thanked her profusely, and we all took turns sipping the cold goodness in the beating sun.

So many random people saw my hurting and my weakness this week, and they were quick and generous to act. It got me thinking though… what about the people whose hurting isn’t so visible? What about the ones who are more broken on the inside than out, and could also use a gentle smile or a beautiful flower, or just to know that they are seen and cared for? I guarantee they are all around us, and they may be trying to hide it just like me, but we shouldn’t have to look far to see another soul thirsty for a refreshing dose of encouragement, or an extra helping hand. I want to remember to look for ways to be kind, whether I can see that a person needs it or not. Chances are, they do.

More about my surgery misadventures later; for now let’s finish off this good long weekend with a renewed passion to be the hope this hurting world so desperately needs. I’d love to hear ways you are finding to spread kindness around you!

Please leave me a comment, it lets me know you’re listening!!!