The World Sees You—Did It Bring a Casserole?
To everyone holding families, communities, and institutions together under extraordinary strain: yes, the world should see you and respect you. The reassurance credited to Prince Harry’s speech in Kyiv gets the kindness right. But respect does not set out the chairs, soothe the tired child, or wash the crockpots after the neighbors go home.
If the world sees the people defending this country and keeping ordinary life stitched together, let it arrive with sleeves rolled up. A gold-framed compliment is lovely; it still cannot carry a casserole dish. The fellowship hall needs hands as much as kind words. Bring supper, help with cleanup, and label the crockpot lid. That is what respect looks like when it has to get home before the leftovers spoil.