The impossible task: Mending hearts others have broken.
Too often in my life I have seen people struggle in the present because of their past. Worse, many who have been damaged, saddened and broken by people in their past expect others to fill the gaping wound in their soul. This is a recipe for further pain. Whilst others may care, help, assist, listen and grieve alongside, humans are limited in their ability to understand and in their stamina for caring.
Old wounds go deep; it is impossible to retrace (and repair) all the past missteps and injustices that have brought a person to their current pain.
When we expect a spouse, a friend, or even a co-worker to repair what was damaged long ago, we put them in an impossible place. They will never be able to bind such an old and grievously deep wound. And the more we expect of them, the less they will be able to meet our expectations.
Often, others in our lives don't even know the expectations we've placed on them, and we blame them for not responding in the way we expect they should. It is impossible for them to fully understand what we are thinking and expecting.
We are seeking someone who can salve the wounds, repair the injustices, and remedy the broken heart. We expect others to provide instant recovery for years of sadness and pain. But no human being can repair in a moment what others have damaged over decades.
Thus, this immense gap in our lives can only be mended by someone with an infinite depth of love. There are holes in our lives only G-d can fill. Turning to Him in distress is a beginning, for "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit". Psalm 34:18