Devotionals

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A Burden Shared
© 2005
by

Stephen A. Peterson


4:10 PM on an October, 2005 Friday afternoon little Kortni had not come home after school. Concerned about her young daughter’s well-being, Mrs. Josephson called her best friend’s house. Within moments of her call, Mrs. Josephson received the good news that her daughter was there with her best friend as she expected.

“Miriam, would you please send my daughter home? Thank you!”

Within ten minutes, Kortni came into the kitchen with a frightened look on her face.

“What’s going on? Why didn’t you come home after school was over like I’ve told time and time again, young lady?” asked her now perplexed mother.

“Raven lost the money her uncle gave her for her birthday today, momma.”

“Okay. Did you help her look for her money?”

“No, I went home with Raven to help her cry and feel better about her lost money.”

Mrs. Josephson’s anger melted away to be replaced with praise for her daughter who stood by her friend in her moment of need. The word “empathy” came to mind. More than “sympathy” which is looking down upon or pitying the pain, suffering or loss of another, empathy gets down and shares another person’s suffering. The very same experience that Jesus Christ did by leaving the beauty, comforts and glory of His Heavenly home to suffer what every human person suffers. He suffered loss, illness, rejection, being hated, physical pain, mental anguishes and wept just the each and every person has at one time or another. Is it not wonderful that we, have someone who understands and can relate to us and our experiences in everyday life?

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