It’s not a surprise to me that Tim’s sense that everyone mattered drove much of his behavior, both constructive and destructive. You can’t instinctively understand the value of others without an intrinsic sensitivity, which most of us associate with an equally intrinsic goodness. But it can also be a curse.
Sensitive individuals are often tormented by demons invisible to the rest of us, because the sword of sensitivity has two edges. We easily see the emotional sweetness in a child who is sensitive, but we often miss how easily they bleed with a cutting word.
We recognize the value when we see a child spontaneously come to the aid of another, or, unprompted, shares what he has with a child he just met. What we sometimes miss is the sudden dim of the eye when we lose our patience with him. We often overlook the sudden withdrawn demeanor after a difficult day. We grow annoyed with the ease with which laughter suddenly turns to tears. We don’t always understand what is behind the sudden outbursts. Continue reading
