Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.
Be kind. Even if the other person isn’t kind, be kind. We’ve all had falls. But not everyone mends. The world is full of shattered humans who are not kind to others because of their own level of suffering.
My recent experience with agony heightened my compassion for others who are suffering physical or mental hurts that no one sees. Even as a writer, I can’t find words to express how ghastly the pain in my hip was except to say that I wish readers could rate my books at my pain level—10.
When a person tries to sit on a toilet seat and accompanies that attempt with loud enough hollers to bring the cows in from the field…it’s bad. Walking and standing elicited the same response. As for bending over to pick something up—forget it. Since we have a dog that needs walking, not being able to bend over was especially awkward. My poor husband had dog picking up detail for weeks. Additionally, our dog thinks she’s the housekeeper. When anything is on the floor that doesn’t belong there, she puts her nose on it and stares at it until someone picks it up. (Except for her toys. They are exempt.)
Yay! I picked up dog poop today! What a relief to be able to return to that simple chore. Part of the healing involved pushing through the pain to do back exercises and go running. For those who say, “I don’t run. If you see me running, you better run, too, because something is after me,” I will admit that fast walkers can pass me when I’m “running.” It’s not about speed, it’s about exercise to re-build the body. It’s also about a verse from Marjorie Ainsborough Decker’s “Christian Mother Goose” book:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Humpty Dumpty shouted, “Amen!
God can put me together again!
Prayer and praise. As I was “running,” I sang, “You are the God Who is healing me.” And I believed it.
So today I picked up dog poop. The possibilities for tomorrow are endless! God still heals, he still answers prayers…and, yes, He still instructs and expects us to be kind to one another.
Forgive shattered people and give them the gift of kindness. We never know when we will be next one to fall off the wall.
http://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Parker-McKean/e/B00BOX90OO/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Stephanie Parker McKean 
Ah, great post! I really appreciate your focus on being kind to people in pain, to the broken. It can be really hard to push through pain, do physical therapy, but that really is the best way to support healing and recover. I suppose that’s true of all kinds of healing.
Thanks for your comment. A Native American doctor motivated me. He wrote that painkillers stopped the healing process that God had built into the body. I have personally known some horror stories about people being hooked to painkillers (I was married to one. He died of an overdose.). I decided that if I were going to trust God, I needed to trust Him with everything including the pain. But while I’ve always tried to be kind, I found it hard sometimes to look past my pain and be the person I knew I should be. That was a real eye opener and gave me more compassion than I had ever had toward people who seem critical and unkind. It made me realize how hard it is to be kind to others when you yourself are in great pain. Have a blessed rest of the week…pain free and joyful.
Glad you are feeling better. Love the beautiful, bright green moss in your photo!
Thanks, Victoria! The bright green moss is Scotland! The folks in charge of the property here are getting rid of the moss when they go. Folks here don’t like it on their roofs or walkways. Not sure why! It’s lovely. I walk along looking at it and pretend I’m walking through an enchanted forest.
Glad to read your pain is diminishing. There are many ailments that are not ‘life threatening’ but the pain can make life a great almost impossible trial.
Best wishes- fellow moss lover
Thanks, fellow moss lover! You are right about the impossible trial. I didn’t actually consider suicide when the pain was the worst…but I did give some thought as to HOW I would do it if I would…which thankfully…I wouldn’t and won’t!
Oh Steph, I didn’t know you were in so much pain! What was wrong? I’m immensely glad you are feeling so much better now, but do be careful out there!
Thanks, Val. You are so kind. You’re a bit too far away to hear the hollering! At the worst, it felt as if the bones in my hip had separated. Seriously, I don’t think even I, as a tough Texan, could run on broken bones! The funny thing is that it hurts to cough. Seems insane that coughing standing up would hurt the hips! But I am daily on the mend.
Oh no Stephanie. Sorry you went through that. I’ve heard hip pain is the worst. Your kind words towards others during a frustrating time shows how beautiful a person you are.
Thanks for YOUR kind words, elliebleu. You are so thoughtful. Being in pain can either make us hard or bitter – I’ve discovered – or give us empathy and compassion for others. The second outcome is the best and it pleases God! Have a great weekend…and speaking of great….thanks for all the great recipes! I believe I could eat dishes like those until I fell down too full to move!