"Be Kind . . .

. . . for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." This wisdom is variously attributed to Philo, to Plato, to other thinkers. I have heard it many times, and most recently encountered a variation of it on Mz. G's blog. This was a couple of weeks ago.

Someone I know is fighting a hard battle. It is a terrible battle indeed. She doesn't talk about it at all, which is unfortunate. There are so many of us who would be willing -- honored, even -- to listen, to support, to hug. But perhaps the pain is too great at present to be shared. It comes out, though, in behavior, in actions, in attitude. And sometimes it is difficult not to take it personally. Sometimes it is not pleasant to be in her company.

I need to remind myself that she is fighting a hard battle, a harder battle than any I've fought. And I must be kind.