Empathy in Action

My father is finally home, and he is very thankful to be here. Even with a long road to recovery ahead, everything seems better from your own room in your own house. I myself find it difficult to be away from my own home for so long, even though I haven't been through near the difficulties that my father has been through in the past few weeks. I miss my husband most of all, and can't imagine life without him. I understand why it scared my mom so much at the thought of losing my dad. When you've found the one person who you can't live without, the idea of that happening is devastating in an indescribable way.

While sitting at the hospital last week my mom and I were discussing the way tragedy brings people together (in much the same way as a pregnant belly elicits pregnancy stories). I heard so many stories while sitting in the waiting room of the hospital. One mother told me about her 23 year old soon who had just been diagnosed 4 weeks earlier with cancer. Amazing the way life changes so quickly for people. He will have months of recovery and was suddenly faced with things that would've never entered my immature mind at the unseasoned age of 23. How horrible that people must go through these things. Still, I find it immensely interesting that even the most reserved people are willing to divulge their deepest heartaches because they see you in similar circumstances. Though they are undesirable places to be, the circumstances almost invite you to share them. To let people know others understand what they're going through. They feel the deepest empathy, and even though they may not know the special person in your life that it effects, they are sitting there going through it with you.

If we really want to be Christ like, or even just a good person, I think that empathy deserves more than a passing thought. Though it may be a dark place to remember in your life, it is also something that you can tell others about to strengthen them. It may be your tragedy, but in the end, its God's victory.



Finally, all of you be like-minded, showing fellow feeling, having brotherly affection, tenderly compassionate, humble in mind... bestowing a blessing, because you were called to this [course], so that YOU might inherit a blessing. I Peter 3: 8,9.