There are many opportunities to offer emotional support and encouragement these days. With the pandemic nearly over in this country, there have been many cases of people being neglected or losing family members to this fearful disease. Having got through the physical demands of the Lock down, when so many of us were confined to our homes and visits were restricted to answering the door to receive a delivery of food or items ordered online. The delivery was usually accompanied by the person having to stand a couple of yards away as if we had the plague ourselves. It is disconcerting to be treated this way, but it was necessary to allow social distancing and keep the opportunities of infection to a minimum.
It is the elderly who perhaps feel the neglect and separation so much, as they are not always able to join in with local events with the more active souls and they feel as if they are being treated differently in many ways. Too many souls became separated from their families and visits became impossible through travel restrictions and social distancing. To the elderly, physical contact is so important and a touch or a hug means so much more than just a comfortable affirmation of love and support. Great sadness has been experienced by the loss of loved ones due to this cruel virus and many were not able to even say goodbye as the restrictions on visiting made this impossible.
Elderly couples rely so much on each other just by being there and giving support and encouragement. When one of them is ripped away and is no longer there, it leaves a massive hole in the emotional life of the one who is left behind. They need support by telephone or computerized picturing such as Skype or Zoom. Even that can never fill the void left by their other half with whom they committed their lives together and never could face the possibility of being apart. It is the little things that have gone missing with the departure of their loved one that are intimate and personal to them. We, on the outside, can try but we can never completely ease their pain. We must remember to honor their Birthdays and the Anniversaries. Remember that they still live unless we forget them.
Memories are the greatest way to honor them. Those who are left need to share their emotions and to speak to their pictures, which helps to keep them in our hearts and minds. When a thought comes into our minds and we recognize it as being what our beloved would have said, we need to acknowledge it and reply to it. Many lovers parted by death sometimes feel foolish to acknowledge that the presence of their loved one is still alive. We need to remember that love doesn’t die. That feeling of love that you have lived with on this earth plane is still there waiting for you. If you believe in a loving God, why should He kill the love that you have enjoyed and felt? If your love is strong enough, you will be met by the love that you have shared together. Keep that love alive and feel their support for you and be encouraged.
Saturday, 1st May 2021
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