Are we our brother’s keepers?

The definition of empathy is “The ability to understand and share the feelings of another”. Related words are compassion, understanding, mercy, goodwill, charity and grace.

It appears in the modern world of Facebook, Tik Tok and distancing ourselves from others we have forgotten something that people used to say to their children to explain why they should not judge others. “There but for the grace of God go I.”

I don’t think you have to be religious to appreciate that quote. As a nurse who was once a hospital social worker, I have seen repeatedly people who do not choose to be abused, homeless, suffering from mental health issues, poor or with some other disability or stigma. I have never seen anyone actively trying to be an addict or wanting to be bipolar. I have never been told by anyone that they enjoyed being abused or thrown away by their family or social group.

I want to remind people that every addict has a family, and you might know their aunt or uncle. Every person suffering from a mental health issue has a family and you might know their parents. Don’t delude yourself that these things can’t happen to your family. Don’t pretend they are less than you are because it has never happened to you.

One car accident could turn you into someone craving pain relief any way you can get it. One drunken issue with a spouse can turn you into a victim. One head injury could change your child’s or parents’ behavior into something you can’t handle. One medical crisis could lead your family into being homeless. One stroke could leave you helpless and need constant care.

The next time you want to disparage someone needing housing assistance, or needing addiction treatment you should ask yourself; What would I do if that was my family member or other loved one?

Let’s give each other some grace and ask what we can do, not why are they like that?

“There but for the grace of God go I.”

Jim Cannon, Fulton NY

Print this entry