Tenderizing Our Heart!
"My sympathy is stirred."
Hosea 11: 8
Last January, Patrick Martin was shopping for a
computer at Best Buy, when he looked over and
saw the famous basketball superstar,
Shaquille O’Neal, doing the same.
Patrick approached Shaq and told him how sorry he was
to learn of the death of Shaq’s sister from cancer, and he
also offered sympathy over the death of Shaq’s good
friend, Kobe Bryant.
Something about those simple condolences moved
O’Neal. In a few moments he came back over to Martin
and he said, “I like y’all, so get the nicest laptop in here
and I’ll pay for it.” How strange! A simple heartfelt word
of sympathy brought tremendous blessing to the one
who uttered it.
In a far deeper way, we’re enriched when we feel sympathy
for others. We’re blessed when we let ourselves identify with
the pain of others, feeling their sorrow, praying for their needs,
and lifting up their spirits.
Hardened hearts are resistant to God’s blessings, but when
our hearts are tender toward others, they are also receptive
to God’s care and concern. Sympathizing with others helps
us discover happiness.
"To mourn is to sympathize. Happiness
is discovered when we sympathize
with those around us who suffer."
David Jeremiah
