tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post4916139510907907119..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: When children suffer.Fr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-48900956623065840302016-01-21T22:16:59.898+08:002016-01-21T22:16:59.898+08:00“When the children were in tears, he would take a ...“When the children were in tears, he would take a popped corn, and mop up their tears and then, right away, toss this into his mouth.”<br /><br />Strangely enough I find this imagery endearing and tugs at one’s heart strings. It reminded me of the time when my young niece was badly scalded when a big bowl of piping hot soup accidentally slipped from her mother’s hand and splashed onto her back. There was this dumb stricken look of disbelief on her face before it folded up in tears. The pain was excruciating. The drive to the A & E was a nightmare. Even after she was attended to, the copious tears did not stop for a long time .It was an agonising time for me who stood by helplessly, not knowing how to assuage her pain....how I really wanted to be at one with her at that moment. How I wish I had read about this clown with the pop corns and perhaps mop up her tears?<br /><br />In times of suffering and pain, especially for the child, it is very true that words however soft and placating are “intrusive” and sometimes only add to the cacophony of noises that the ensuing confusion caused. The playful and incongruous action of using pop corns to dry tears speaks the language of the child and so is understood. Like you said, it can help to “absorb” the pain and bridges the gap between adult and child, making true compassion real and felt.<br /><br />God bless u, Fr<br /><br />tessa<br />Tessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04211998984286520369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-66425755171690061002016-01-18T13:55:54.601+08:002016-01-18T13:55:54.601+08:00Dear Fr Luke
How're you? Thank you for this b...Dear Fr Luke<br /><br />How're you? Thank you for this beautifully written reflection. To me, it seems that you somehow knew what I needed. This reflection about a child's sufferings is timely. A friend's son is ill and the family is so worried. I'll send your link to them. It won't change things but it will begin to shift their perspective of suffering.. That I believe!!<br /><br />God bless you Fr.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com