‘He was moved with compassion.’ Matthew 9:36
One of the best ways to bounce back from grief and loss
is taking your memories and turning them into motivators, then reaching out in
love to others who are hurting. ‘But I’m busy,’ you say. Jesus was never too
busy to show compassion to hurting people. After Ray and Judy Williamson’s son
David was killed in a fall, Ray said: ‘I used to wonder if I should go to the
funeral home when somebody had a tragedy, because I always feel so awkward and
don’t know what to say. But I’ll never ask again. I’ll always go. It’s not what
you say, but your presence that makes the difference.’ When two teenagers died
in a car accident, their parents decided to have a joint wake. Over a thousand
people attended, some waiting up to three hours to comfort the bereaved
families. When one man who’d stood by himself in line finally reached the
front, he said, ‘I don’t know your children and I’ve never met you. But I came
here tonight because I had a son who died two years ago. I know how it feels.
In the days ahead you’ll go through every emotion you can imagine. I just want
you to know that I’m here for you if you ever need to talk.’ Then he pressed
his card into their hand and walked away. Think about that. A stranger gave
three hours of his time to people he didn’t know, because he wanted to help
them through the most tragic experience of their lives. Understand this: it’s in reaching out to others that a) we become more like Jesus; b) we ourselves are made whole.
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