C.S. Lewis’ analogy of what it’s like to be a widower.

 

 

Getting over it soon?      

But the words are ambiguous. To say the patient is getting over it after an operation on appendicitis is one thing; after he’s had his leg off is quite another. After that operation either the wounded stump heals or the man dies. If it heals, the fierce, continuous pain will stop. Presently he’ll get back his strength and be able to stump about on his wooden leg.

He has “got over it”.

But he will probably have recurrent pains in the stump all his life, and always perhaps pretty bad one’s and he will always be a one legged man. There will hardly be any moment when he forgets it. Bathing, dressing, sitting down and getting up again, even lying in bed, will all be different.

His whole life will be changed.

All sorts of pleasures and activities that he once took for granted will have to be simply written off. Duties too.

At present  (in my grief) I am learning to get about on crutches. Perhaps I shall presently be given a wooden leg.

But I shall never be a biped again.

 

-“A Grief Observed” by  C.S. Lewis