It was one of those days. His stump was aching. He'd lost his foot and today the pain was not bearable at all. For a change he reached out and asked his brother, whom he rarely bothered, to get him his medicine. Something for relief. It was there in the medicine cabinet, it was paid for, it was written out to him, he needed it. His brother said he was heading out in the opposite direction and it wasn't convenient for him. It would have to wait. The timing didn't suit him. Couldn't the pain just wait?
He rubbed his stump. His mouth was ajar in shock but hey, this wasn't the first time. Brother asked on his way out 'how do you like my new shoes?' He paraded a brand new pair of shoes that must have cost an arm and a leg. Funny choice of words he thought to himself. 'how does one show a man in pain, and without a foot, a new pair of expensive shoes when all he wants is his pain relief medicine?'
Many years of similar incidences flashed thru his mind. Cajoling, begging, crying, shouting. See my stump! Others had seen it, sympathised even, one recently bought a walking stick for him, but his brother almost faulted him for his misfortune. Never was the question raised, 'how have you made it along all these years'. Have you needed to compromise, beg, steal? Yes you are resourceful but truely how have you made it?
The stump hurt. He wouldn't be bitter. He would have to solve this puzzle on his own, in a different way. He wished his brother would never loose his foot and 'walk a mile in his shoes'. he smiled quietly to himself at these catch phrases he kept coming up with. Why not smile at the situation rather than be angry, bitter, sad. He definitely wasn't going to feel sorry for himself. He would actually give thanks for the friend who many a time dropped by, called to check up on him while expecting nothing in return. Neighbours thought they were related. They weren't.
The joy of the Lord is my strength he said to himself. He leads me to pastures green. Brother left the gate open. He'll have to close it.
He rubbed his stump. His mouth was ajar in shock but hey, this wasn't the first time. Brother asked on his way out 'how do you like my new shoes?' He paraded a brand new pair of shoes that must have cost an arm and a leg. Funny choice of words he thought to himself. 'how does one show a man in pain, and without a foot, a new pair of expensive shoes when all he wants is his pain relief medicine?'
Many years of similar incidences flashed thru his mind. Cajoling, begging, crying, shouting. See my stump! Others had seen it, sympathised even, one recently bought a walking stick for him, but his brother almost faulted him for his misfortune. Never was the question raised, 'how have you made it along all these years'. Have you needed to compromise, beg, steal? Yes you are resourceful but truely how have you made it?
The stump hurt. He wouldn't be bitter. He would have to solve this puzzle on his own, in a different way. He wished his brother would never loose his foot and 'walk a mile in his shoes'. he smiled quietly to himself at these catch phrases he kept coming up with. Why not smile at the situation rather than be angry, bitter, sad. He definitely wasn't going to feel sorry for himself. He would actually give thanks for the friend who many a time dropped by, called to check up on him while expecting nothing in return. Neighbours thought they were related. They weren't.
The joy of the Lord is my strength he said to himself. He leads me to pastures green. Brother left the gate open. He'll have to close it.
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