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Misunderstood


Being known is something that all human beings long for and are in search of. It is woven into our DNA wiring to be known by our Creator. Being known brings connection, intimacy (in-to-me-you-see), safety, and security. It is being face-to-face. This is what we crave and desire yet instead we are misunderstood.


An awful misunderstanding for me was when I was talking with a doctor regarding one of the kid’s need for Intravenous (IV) therapy for cellulitis caused by an infected spider bite. The doctor was telling us, the home director, house parent, and myself (nurse) the importance of the child to stay in the hospital to receive the treatment. The house director and house parent asked me if I could talk to the doctor. After more discussion, I told the doctor that I would be responsible for the IV therapy treatment and care for the child back in the comfort of the child’s home. The doctor looked blankly at me like I was talking gibberish to him. I was not yet fluent in Spanish and my pronunciation wasn’t the best and nurses there did not administer IV therapy, only doctors. It all worked out, but it could have caused discomfort and anxiety for the child who was terrified of hospitals and from a professional viewpoint, I felt misunderstood.

 

Think back on a time where you had been misunderstood. How awful or painful was that misunderstanding? 

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