“Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.”
Yesterday morning on The Edge challenge zoom call a friend shared about a particularly difficult day in his families life. It involved a cancer battle and the loss of a beloved family pet all in the same morning. His point was that we encounter people daily and often have no idea what they are going through in their lives. With that truth in mind he challenged all of us to walk through our day with a heightened sense of compassion, not being hasty in basing our responses on what we see in an action, behavior or attitude. It is very easy to assume everyone needs certain responses to their journey and we can be painfully off in those assessments. Here Solomon points out that when a person is hurting, joviality and song may not be what ministers to them best. Even compassionate well wishers can be a burden. When my wife passed away my kids and I left from her memorial service and went to a big city to ‘hide in the crowd’. We also hung out with a close and dear friend who simply was with us. It was just what we needed. Often a persons greatest need is to have us sit and, at times, even weep with them. Today be aware that you don’t know another’s hidden hurts and simply be kind. #BeTheEdge
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 NIV
