“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
We cross paths with people all day who are going through private celebrations or struggles. Culturally, we are well accustomed to respond to the daily inquiry of “How are you doing?” with the same level of sincerity given from the questioner. Most often this is a polite exchange of greeting. As followers of Christ, we will find that peoples’ stories are not only fascinating but, at times, searching. I don’t suggest upsetting the daily ritual of a safe greeting by digging into someone’s heart when you first encounter them, but I do believe there are great ways to encourage a hidden, but hurting heart every day. Holding a door open a moment longer, smiling and making eye contact with a person as you pass, taking a snack for everyone at work, calling a friend out of the blue just to check in. Jesus modeled powerfully uplifting ways to touch the hearts of humanity. Perhaps one of the most powerful life-giving practices of Jesus was listening. When a heart is hurting, at times what it wants most is to be heard and understood. If you want to move from ‘stranger to the pain’ to ‘instrument of healing,’ practice being a patient listener. Today, truly love as a Jesus did and listen.
“While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.” Luke 24:15 NASB