I recently became aware of how judgmental I have been regarding a family member of one of my patient’s. This was a husband of a dear sweet lady. I had become judgmental because she was bed bound and he was unable to help change her.

I had no idea that he had health problems of his own. He never complained. Although he did not help change her, he did everything else within his power to take care of her.

Recently he came into her bedroom and looked worn out. I asked him what was wrong. He said his left knee hurt. I looked down and noticed his knee was quite swollen. I know exactly how much those pesky knees can hurt because I had to stop working for a spell because mine had hurt so much.

After I had become incensed at his lack of helpfulness I had prayed extensively for him and his wife. The Lord revealed to me how much he did for her and then when he told me about his knee pain I totally understood why he did not change her. The poor fellow could barely walk and to change her may have been too much for his tired body.

Although at first he was silent about his knee pain, I am so relieved that he told me about it because it opened up a greater chasm of compassion for him.

Within my role as a home health nurse it is common for caretakers to be ignored. It is not just or right to do so though. I have learned through this case to look beyond the patient which I am hired to take care of and to give compassion to those which are serving in silence, for they may be suffering also.