Helping the Hurting
In the story “Woman Hollering
Creek” by Sandra Cisneros, helping those who are hurting is one of the main
ideas. Cleofilas is the main character. She gets married and moves to Texas. It
is the life she has always dreamed of. However, this fantasy life is not what
she imagined it would be. Her husband starts abusing her. “But when the moment
came, and he slapped her once, and then again, and again; until the lip split
and bled an orchid of blood, she didn’t fight back, she didn’t break into tears,
she didn’t run away as she imagined she might when she saw such things in the
telenovelas” (Cisernos). The woman that helps her escape is a nurse, Graciela,
who arranges to get Cleofilas a ride back to her home in Mexico.
Everyone has struggles. No one really knows
what anyone else is going through unless he is very close to the other person.
Even then, there are some things that he might not know about his friend. People often wonder why people act a certain
way. If someone acts grouchy, depressed, bitter, shy, sensitive, or arrogant,
there might be a reason that the person acts that way. Of course, there is not
always a reason. Sometimes those characteristics are just part of who the
person is. It is part of their personality. However, that is not always the
case. There could be a reason why they act that way. If someone is arrogant,
they could actually be very insecure but put up a false mask of confidence. If
someone is depressed, someone could have hurt them deeply, or they could have
lost someone close to them. In “Woman Hollering Creek,” Cleofilas was obviously
depressed. She was so depressed and in need of help that she cried in front of
the nurse (Cisernos). These are just some examples of why people act the way
they do.
It is important to know how to help
those who are hurting or in need. One of the main things one can do to help is
just to be quiet and listen. It is important to let the person who is hurting
be the one to do the talking. Also, don’t force the person to talk. Pastor John
Fredericksen says, “People who are grieving don't
always want or need to talk. When they are ready, as in the case of Job (Job
3:1), they will open up. When they do, it is best to let them guide the
conversation. That way we can learn what is on their heart and how best to
minister to them. It is a time for us to be a good listener and very carefully
choose our words.”
Another way one can help the
hurting is to be sympathetic. There is definitely a time to mourn. The last
thing that anyone should do is to judge the person for being sad or in a bad
situation. Instead, we should be sad with the person. A good friend will always
have compassion. It is wrong to expect the person to be cheerful if they are in
a difficult situation. Of course, there is nothing wrong with trying to cheer
the person up, but if you are trying to be a true friend, there should be some
degree of sadness in your heart too. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on once
in awhile. Pastor Fredericksen tells a story, “Several
years ago a Christian family lost a 16 year old teenage daughter in a tragic
automobile accident. It was, understandably, extremely hard to take as a parent
or family member. Because the young lady, like her family, had a testimony of
knowing Christ as her Savior, the well meaning pastor of their church insisted
on making her funeral a celebration and praise service. As a pallbearer in that
service, I can tell you it was awkward, unnatural, and seemed such an injustice
to this girl's loved ones. Yes, this departed saint had "graduated,"
as we often say, into eternity. And, yes, it was "far better" for her
than this sin-cursed earth. But the Lord made us with the emotions and human
attachments that we have. It would have been far better to have allowed this
family an appropriate time to grieve without placing such unrealistic
expectations on them. So, when you seek to minister to those who hurt, be sympathetic in the kind of demands you place
on them, remembering how you would want to be treated if you were in their
shoes.”
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Lastly,
if someone is in physical danger, as Cleofilas was, get the person to a safe
place. Go to the police, or at least provide a way to get the person out of the
dangerous situation. Graciela did the right thing. She provided Cleofilas a way
to get back to safety.
We need
to always be observant and on the look-out for those to help. If everyone
simply tried to help each other out, the world would be a much better place. If
someone is hurting, we need to remember to stay quiet, show sympathy, and get
the person out of danger.
Works Cited
Cisernos, Sandra. “Woman Hollering Creek.” Class Handout.
English 2328-4011. Tarrant County College, Fort Worth, TX. 7 July 2012. Print.
Fredericksen, John. "Helping Those Who Hurt." BereanBibleSociety.org. Richard
C. Church, n.d. Web. 03 Aug. 2012. http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/articles/1011369339.html>.
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