Compassion and Empathy

Compassion-A suffering with another; Painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another, etc.

Empathy-the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Empathy vs sympathy- Empathy is shown in how much compassion and understanding we can give to another. Sympathy is more of a feeling of pity for another. Empathy is our ability to understand how someone feels while sympathy is our relief in not having the same problems.

Our vacation bible school theme verse a few years ago was Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference. I didn’t know this verse before that year, but it has stuck with me ever since. I believe compassion and empathy are something people struggle with. It’s not intentional but I believe people are so busy and so consumed by their own lives and day to day activities that we forget about others. Sometimes I let my feelings get the best of me and begin to think about how hard I’ve got it, but the Lord sends me gentle reminders that I am blessed. I have a hard-working husband, three beautiful children, a roof over my head, a wonderful church and church family. Wow! I am so blessed; it’s really overwhelming to think about! But I throw myself a pity party every now and then when I let Satan fill my mind with his lies. Sometimes the Lord puts someone in my path that needs to be shown some compassion and empathy. He reminds me I am his and he’s got me in the hallow of his hand, to put my selfish thinking aside and consider others.

We, as Christians, are to be Christ like and Christ had compassion and empathy so much so that he bore our sins and suffered our death so we wouldn’t have to. If he can do that, surely we can take the time to take someone dinner, or visit them, or even just an encouraging text or phone call. You never know what that might mean to someone. We should really try to support our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our preacher said it and our Sunday school teacher reiterated, when someone is requesting prayer for someone having surgery or an illness or whatever, pray about it like its you or your family member going through it. I know personally when my son was having his tonsils removed, I prayed so hard that it would go smoothly and his recovery we be easy and I’ll admit I prayed more for him than I would typically pray for someone who was just mentioned in Wednesday night prayer meeting. That’s wrong of me, and I am ashamed.

Also, when someone stumbles, have compassion. We are so quick to criticize others, we forget that we are all still robed in our sinful flesh and each one of us are capable of the same things. It’s only by the grace of God that we are not in the same position of those we are criticizing. Perhaps, we haven’t done what so and so has done but we probably stumbled in other areas that they didn’t. When a brother stumbles, help them up without criticizing, without gossiping, instead pray for them, encourage them. Galatians 6:1 KJV Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Let’s all try to show more compassion, more empathy, be kinder to one another, and as a result we can have unity in our churches and maybe even revival in our own hearts and our churches.