Sympathy Will Do That
Yesterday was our 15th Wedding Anniversary. We knew as that day drew closer that we had done our celebrating back in April when we went to the Bahamas for vacation, but still the thought crossed our minds that we should do something on the day. However, I can’t say that either of us felt in a celebratory mood yesterday.
Don’t misunderstand me, our marriage is great, and 15 years is an accomplishment worth recognizing. Any anniversary is. And even though we didn’t go out on the town, we enjoyed a wonderful evening on our back patio with California Pizza Kitchen take out, the Olympics, and our daughters.
What happened yesterday is that our emotions finally got the best of us. Daily life became too much. Sleepless nights caught up. And two drained people sat side by side on an outdoor love seat trying to get their bearings.
Sympathy will do that.
Sympathy: Deep concern or understanding to the distress of another human being; a concern for the well being of another.[i]
Last Friday night we received word that, Jenna, the 15 year-old-daughter, of some family friends had been admitted to the hospital. Later that night an MRI revealed a brain tumor. As the weekend went on, more tests revealed the tumor was malignant and aggressive. Tuesday a biopsy was done. And now the family awaits the next step.
Can you imagine? Maybe you can. Maybe you can more than sympathize. Maybe you can empathize. I like to think of empathy and sympathy as sisters. Both are emotions of deep concern for another, but empathy means sharing a specific emotional state or experience with another person.[ii] Perhaps you know all to well what Jenna is facing.
On Friday night our family stepped into their tragedy as sympathetic by-standers. We anxiously awaited phone calls, texts, and Facebook updates. We reached out to help, dropping our own agendas to come along side them in anyway we could. We prayed continually and pleaded with God for healing. We couldn’t relate first hand to what they were going through, but we could sympathize on many levels—especially as parents.
I’ve never experienced sleeping problems, but since Friday night I’ve found my sleep to be restless and disconnected. I’ve woken many times to a glaring red clock at wee hours of the morning. Each wakeful moment during the quiet hours of the night I’m compelled to pray for Jenna.
Sympathy will do that.
Yesterday it all hit. The reality of the situation slapped me in the face. The thoughts I tried to dismiss came to the surface. And tears flooded my eyes.
This could so easily be us.
And it’s that thought that propels me to pray just a little harder; to reach out just a little more; to be thankful for all the little things in everyday life, and not take one moment for granted. I know I’m not alone in this realization.
The Bible speaks of sympathy like this. Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2) It’s not a suggestion, or a great idea, but a pretty straightforward assignment.
It’s not easy being sympathetic bystanders. Or carrying other’s burdens. But in the end it’s what we are called by God to do. And someday, maybe, as the one with the burden, we will know the great importance of the burden carriers in our life.
