Empathy
Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who morn.”
Are you empathetic? I have to confess that empathy is not my top gift. Sadly, I am too often focused on my personal goals and ambitions to notice the pain of others. Luckily, God gave me a wife that is gifted in empathy. It comes natural for her. She has even taught me to be more empathic. She will often open my eyes by asking me to imagine being in a difficult situation. “How would you feel?” “What would you do?” she will ask. Then she says that is how _________ feels. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is one way to grow in empathy.
We live in a time of great division. Even universal challenges like a global pandemic have not drawn us together. It seems like everyone is talking and no one is willing to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. In Romans 12, the Bible tells us to approach each other with humility and not repay evil with evil. To make it our goal to live in harmony with each other.
How about you? On a scale from 1-10 how naturally empathetic are you? Have you taken a moment to think about current events from someone else’s point of view? Do you have a friend that views things from a different political or racial perspective?
Take a moment today to listen. Try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Maybe pick up the phone and ask some questions. Two of my best friends have radically different views than me. When I feel a lack of perspective I will often call them and say, “help me understand” or “what am is missing?” When I humble myself and listen, I often learn a perspective that I just couldn’t see. Take some time today to grow in Empathy.