Habit of Sympathy August 21, 2014

¹ We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1 ESV

⁴ The Lord God has given me
    the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
    him who is weary.
Isaiah 50:4 ESV

Ask Him to increase your powers of sympathy: to give you more quickness and depth of sympathy, in little things as well as great. Opportunities of doing a kindness are often lost from mere want of thought. Half a dozen lines of kindness may bring sunshine into the whole day of some sick person. Think of the pleasure you might give to some one who is much shut up, and who has fewer pleasures than you have, by sharing with her some little comfort or enjoyment that you have learnt to look upon as a necessary of life,—the pleasant drive, the new book, flowers from the country, etc. Try to put yourself in another's place. Ask "What should I like myself, if I were hard-worked, or sick, or lonely?" Cultivate the habit of sympathy.

G. H. WILKINSON.*

 "Cultivate a habit of sympathy."  All to often I have hidden behind the excuse that, "I am just not good at sympathy."  I allow this to be an excuse not to send that card or offer a listening ear.  But today's scripture verses point to the disobedience in that attitude.

I have an obligation to "bear with the failings of the weak".  God expects me to "sustain with a word him who is weary".  While sympathy not be my strong suit, it is none-the-less a habit that can be developed and strengthened.  

If God can give us strength to conquer addictions, stand up against temptation, and get through rough times, surely He can help me to become more sympathetic.  If God commands, He will equip.  He is a God of action, not excuses.

*Daily Strength for Daily Needs.  8/21/14