Stephenson Family Ties

If we took a little time, the nettle
would be useful; we neglect it, and
it becomes harmful. Then we kill it.
Men are so like nettle! There are no
bad herbs, and no bad men; there are
only bad cultivators.
from: Les Miserables
by: Victor Hugo 1862

My Builders' dad has been in the hospital for a couple of days. He had one of those remarkable knee replacements. He's doing quite well, and we look forward to a full and speedy recovery. My Builder and I went to visit him his first night there, while he was still quite out of it and already dreading the next day when they were going to insist that he get out of bed and walk himself down to the therapy room; only 24 hours are receiving his bionic knee!! Remarkable!!!
While I was sitting on that sterile institutional couch, that each hospital room in the nation seems to come equipped with...I got to reflecting-again- on all of our many blessings.
We all know Haiti is falling apart at the seams. More acutely, the people are falling apart at the seams quite literally!! Haiti has nothing! The pain and suffering we witness on tv is beyond comprehension!! ( I can hardly stand to watch)
Meanwhile back here at home we enjoy every modern medical miracle known to man, right at our fingertips!! Grandpa suffered a minor mishap due to the lack of experience of a LPN. It raised the ire and the blood pressure in my Builder. Builder was VERY upset. Which again caused me to remember all the desperate loved ones of all the injured and sick in Haiti, all of whom arent getting any type of treatment they so desperately need. And now we see these desperate folks raging at anyone who will listen, or just plan raging at the sky!!
At first I couldnt understand the anger.
Why anger?
But now, after having this object lesson right before my eyes, as I watched Baby Bear Builder try to be 'protector' of Papa Bear while he's down....I can see perfectly well how anger flares!!
I wish that anger wasnt the first knee-jerk reaction that comes to the top in stressful situations, but often it just does.
And so...as I beheld what I did in our beautiful, well equipped hospital right here in the good ole US of A, where help and supplies are immediately on hand... and yet there was still a brief moment of anger and frustration when things didnt go exactly as expected.
What I Know:
*Promising the same humane treatment for our Haitian neighbors seems to be proving much, much more difficult than any one realized. Unimaginable complications limit perfect execution of getting supplies and help where its needed the most. And oh how maddening it must be for those waiting, waiting, waiting while watching loved ones suffer and often die!!
*We are praying mightily here at home.
*May we all do what we can to help...money seems to be the most rational tool right now.
(what else can we do?)
*The United States of America is a GENEROUS nation!!
*Again...I'll be ever grateful and step up....someway!!