...what good people can do in the face of great sorrow. We help some time pass for those suffering. We sit with them in their hopeless pain and feel terrible with them, without trying to fix them with platitudes; doing this with them is just about the most gracious gift we have to offer. We give up what we think should be doing, or think need to get done, to keep them company.We help them to bear being in time and space during unbearable times and spaces.
In her book "Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope, and Repair," Anne Lamott emphasizes the importance of companionship in times of deep sorrow. Rather than trying to fix someone's pain with empty words, she believes that simply being present with those who are suffering is a profound gift. This act of sitting with them through their despair allows them to feel supported during their hardest moments, showcasing the power of empathy and understanding.
Lamott highlights that helping others involves sacrificing our own burdens and the urge to rush through discomfort. By offering our presence, we enable those in distress to endure their tough situations without feeling alone. This approach turns our time and space into spaces of healing, where genuine connection and shared suffering can occur, reinforcing the idea that what truly matters is the compassion we show in the darkest times.
