Cheers CMW
This writing is taken from the health book A Pocket Full of Gold by Christabel Mary
Section two - The Walk, Gathering Information
Chapter One Removing Fear
Page 115
A very long time ago I came across a lady cowering in a corner of an alley. Even though she looked vacant, staring into emptiness, I could inwardly sense her very deep fear. It was awful seeing an individual reduced to this mental state. She had obviously absconded from the psychiatric ward. As I did not want to alarm her in any way, I decided to approach her from directly in front. She would then have a chance to familiarise herself with my presence.
Compassion overcame me as I walked towards her, showering her with my love. Softly, very softly I said to her, looking directly into her eyes, 'Hello, I`m Christabel. What is your name?'
The lady continued to gaze blankly into the distance but somewhere I felt a change in her. Her posture had begun to melt and I realised that she was somehow listening and receiving. I took her hand and sat down next to her. 'You are going to be alright. You are safe now.'
I sat very quietly next to her, holding her hand, allowing her to feel the warmth of love. After a few minutes, when I knew that the timing was right, I spoke gently to her, 'I think you have run away from the hospital. Why don`t we both go back together?'
With these words her thin little body seemed to shake with terror, and then it shrank back into its former posture.
'You will be alright. I will be with you.' Again her frail body seemed to straighten. Her head then turned towards me, revealing her vunerable self. Big round eyes, pleading for help, gazed up at me, but still no sound.
'Every time you feel scared we will stop walking and you can take three deep breaths.' She was now listening to me with undivided attention.
'With every breath,' I said, 'I want you to squeeze my hand tight, and as you do so, I want you to feel how strong and beautiful you are. You can do it, I know you can.'
'Do you really think I can do it?' she whispered.
'Of course you can. Let us practise breathing and squeezing.'
The dirty little alleyway was soon forgotten, along with the fear, as we stood practising the breathing and squeezing. The lady`s own inner strength and healing power was making itself known to her.
Before too long we were climbing the steps to the hospital. Every time she felt fear, we stopped in our tracks, while my friend took three full breaths and felt her own strength by squeezing my hand three times.
I was so proud of her, and of course my newfound friend was very pleased with herself. By the time we reached the top of the steps I swore she looked a different person. A person now alive with courage and hope, ready to face the future!
It turned out that this little lady, who by the way was in her forties, had not talked for months and had not eaten for days. Nobody in the psych ward had been able to communicate with her for months!
The head nurse whose energy resembled a toad, and obviously hated her job, seemed to want to punish my friend for absconding. After signing the patient back into the ward, I asked somewhat matter-of-factly,
'This patient has not had anything to eat all day, could you please order her some lunch? She needs a good lunch with loads of vegetables and a nice cup of tea.'
'Certainly not,' the old battle-axe answered. 'If she wanted something to eat, she should not have left the ward. That was her choice. No lunch for her.'
Well, I could not believe my ears! What a horror story. One thing that I have always done is stand up for the rights of others. I very calmly and firmly looked the head nurse straight in the eye, saying, 'You WILL get her lunch NOW. Thankyou.' I then escorted my friend into the diningroom.
Lunch did arrive and my newfound friend happily gobbled it all up. I sat with her while she ate her lunch.We then sat and had up a nice cup of tea. She talked to me about all sorts of things and then it was time for me to leave. I had been so engrossed with the lady that I had forgotten the time and still had not done any of my shopping.
'Goodness gracious, it`s half past two. I must get going now,' I said , as I gave her a hug. 'Good-bye.'
How time flies when you are having fun.
Two psychiatrists approached me as I was leaving the compound.
'How did you do that/' they asked, with a surprised look. 'We have never been able to communicate anything to her and it is ages since she has eaten anything at all. What did you do?'
'I gave her love,' I said, looking them in the eye, 'LOVE, that is all.' And with these words I departed.
LOVE TRULY IS THE GREATEST HEALER
Listen with love, not judgement
And water someone else`s garden as you water your own
\ Fruit is born when care is given Until next time
Much love CMW
A Pocket Full of Gold by Christabel Mary ISBN 0-9757250-0-9
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