Sending Love

It was 1999 and I was a family support worker. I had the strongest urge to see one of my clients although I had not made any appointment to see Joan. Pulling over to the side of the road, I called Joan and said I felt like I had to see her. Joan said her sister was there at her house. They were going to go shopping. I kept talking and drove to Joan’s house. There was no car, so still on the phone, I walked up to the door and rang the bell. On the other end, Joan said, ”One minute, someone is at the door.”
When Joan opened the door, she laughed and asked, “How did you know?”
Joan had been drinking, not a good idea.
When I walked in, I could feel someone else in the house. I asked Joan,” Who else is here?”
“No one, the children are at school.”
I hesitated and walked down the hall and pushed open the first bedroom door I came to.
There on the bed was Joan’s older sister, drunk. Now this one did not have a car for shopping. I told Alice that she would have to leave. Joan was not allowed to drink and could lose her children if she did.
Alice rose unsteadily to her feet. She was close to 300 pounds and around 6 feet tall.
I watched her as I went back down the hall, turning to keep an eye on her. As Alice and I passed the washroom, Joan stood in the washroom door combing her hair. Alice leapt at her sister, knocking all 120 pounds of Joan to the floor. As Alice was pummelling Joan, I somehow managed to pull Alice off Joan.
Toe to toe, I stared up at Alice, growling, “ You have to leave!”
Alice’s eyes changed in those seconds. They became demon-like. Startled, I realized that aggression was not the way to deal with anything. Quickly, I white lighted myself and sent Alice love. Alice’s eyes drooped and very quietly I said,” You must go now.”
Alice turned, walked down the steps to the front door, opened the door and left.
I was stunned, sending love was the best I could have done. I never saw Alice again and I became adamant about sending love with every difficult situation I found myself in.