Love is not an Analgesic, but maybe it helps

I have met a lot of people in my life. Some, a few, I still hold close to my heart, even those that I cannot always be physically close to.

some I have known for a good deal of my life. Some I have known all their lives.

And a few are fairly fresh into my orbit.

But time is not the qualifier. I do not see loving someone as an endurance test, but as a blessing. And I have been, and am blessed.

And loving them means that you take on their ups and downs, not as a burden, but as part of the whole.

To love is to care, and the more I love, the easier it is to care, and the more the ups are moments of bliss, and the downs are periods of pain.

Family members have, over the years, been through both ups and downs, along with me. And more recently the downs have been added to. Not keeping a score, just saying, an up or two would be good.

And then there are those who are in my heart because they put themselves there, and because I want them to stay there.

And they bring, almost daily, small moments of joy, contentment, warmth.

And then, through the laugh I see the pain in the eyes, the sadness resulting from external agents of cruelty and malice, and my heart cracks a little.

And there is nothing that can take that away. Can apply a balm that will sooth.

And I see the strength, and the bravery, and the spirit that keeps the evil at the edge of their life, and my heart cracks a little more.

But I will stay, matching the laugh, even causing it. And hope that the love in me, and those around them, from so many, will help to retain that inner strength.

Until the evil has been vanquished, and can no longer inflict the pain.

And if that never comes, then my love will always be there.

Maybe mot to take the pain away completely, but hopefully to dull its sting.