Hold Someone's Hand

I remember it well. I had just returned from work in my pantsuit nurse's uniform. Our visiting friends had prepared a wonderful supper, and we were just waiting for the potatoes to finish cooking. Suddenly I head a familiar sound from the kitchen - it sounded like the potatoes were boiling over. I raced to the kitchen, but was surprised to see that the potatoes were cooking in my pressure cooker, but the gauge was not on the top, nor were the handles locked. Flames shot up around the pot from the potato water on the electric burner. What to do?

I made a quick decision. The baking soda was in the cupboard behind the flames, and the knob to turn off the stove was behind them. So I reached for the handles and ever-so-gently slid the pot off the burner. But as I got it to the center of the stove, the top blew off, and hot potato water and cooked potatoes landed on me - both hands, my tummy and both thighs. Of course, I let out a war hoop! Ron ran to the bathroom and turned on cold water in the shower, I stripped, getting off those nylon stockings and pants, and headed for the shower. I stood there under the frigid water and watched the skin roll off my body. The pain was beyond anything I had ever experienced.

We wrapped me in a clean sheet and headed for the emergency room where the doctor I worked for and our family doctor awaited our arrival. After a whole lot of pain medication and an IV inserted, the three hour process of debreedment began. And every morning for a week, that process was repeated. My dear visiting friend, who HATES the sight of blood and most medical stuff, was with me for the morning ordeal every day. She held my hand, handed things to the doctor, and was a great nurse and comfort to me.

Holding someones hand in times of distress or pain, is a great blessing. Poor Ron, was given the daunting task of putting silver nitrate on the open wounds after that first week. That was for the purpose of creating a scab, under which the skin could rebuild itself, leaving me with absolutely no scars. Not only did he hold my hand, but he cried along with me as he applied the medication. It burned as bad or worse than the original burn!

What a comfort and an assurance to have special someones who can hold our hand, share our pain or sorrow, give us chicken soup, or rub our feet or aching back in our times of need. Physical touch is healing in itself, but when there is love behind it, the touch is even more beneficial. Actually, touch send out endorphins

Do you have a special someone who holds your hand when you are in need? If you don't, seek out a friend or a family member who is happy to do that for you. And by the way, you can be that hand to hold for someone else too!