Remember that others are suffering

Life’s lessons are often so hard to bear. As I tell my son about the suicide this morning of our next door neighbor, I must remind him to be kind to all. I tell him a broken arm is easy to see, but a broken heart is not. People are suffering, often in silence.

My life lesson, as I weep for my neighbor, is not to judge too harshly people’s behavior and shortcomings. As my neighbor’s grass grew from the gutters in his garbage-laden yard, I thought he could do more to clean up. Unemployed 1½ years, certainly he could do more to find a job. He was alone, surely he could do more to get out with the people who loved him.

But what about me? Could I have done more? Could I have offered to help him clean his yard, could I have asked if there was anything he needed help with?

We often talked; he was an ex-sheriff’s deputy, often in pain from police-related injuries, always so soft-spoken and kind. He helped with communion at area nursing homes and loved his son dearly. I would often see them hugging in the driveway, always amazed that a teenage boy was so respectful and loving to his father, no matter what.

So this life’s lesson was hard learned today. Let kindness be your demeanor, let helpfulness be your task. People are suffering and we can help.

Karen Miranda

Buffalo Grove