By Garlands Member Karen Stathakis
As I thought about what comfort has meant to me, I immediately remembered the soft, brown teddy bear I took to bed with me as a child. Other children have a special “blankie” or a stuffed animal that provides comfort for them. In later years, I experienced the cozy feeling of a warm, puffy comforter on cold winter nights. I must confess there’s even been a slight sense of comfort in eating a piece of the warm peach pie, following a major (or minor) disappointment. I believe that we were created to be comforted in different ways at different times; we’ve probably all developed ways to comfort ourselves.
When a challenging season arrives, such as a time of illness, accident or death of someone close to us, we may not recognize the need and benefit of being comforted by another person. Hopefully, the right person or people will be nearby, but sometimes we may have to seek someone out and express our need. Some people may want someone to talk to, or pray with them; others may just want someone to sit with them. Perhaps it would be comforting to have someone make difficult phone calls for you, take you on an important errand, or go with you to a support group. While we experience comfort in different ways, the reality is there will be times when we need to be comforted.
I watched my husband live through 30 years of kidney failure, including 20 years of hemodialysis and fifteen surgeries. I can’t imagine how I would have made it through that season without encountering many comforters along the way. I’m so grateful they were there for me.
