THINK TOGETHER.
What things make you feel sad?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 25:20. Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.
A couple of days ago we talked about timely words. Good words that are spoken at just the right time. Here, in Proverbs 25:20, Solomon gives us an example of “untimely words” – singing songs to a heavy heart.
When a friend has a heavy heart, when they are sad or discouraged, we might think that the best thing we can do is try to cheer them up. So what do we do? We might try to be funny, or we might make a joke about what they are going through. Solomon says that we might sing songs to them. The idea is that we might try to sing a cheerful song, or a funny song, so that our sad friend will cheer up. But this is actually one of the worst things we can do. Solomon says it is like taking their coat away on a cold day. Brrrr.
Learning to be a good friend means learning to do what the Apostle Paul says in the book of Romans – weep with those who weep. Is your friend sad? Then be sad with them. Is your friend crying (weeping)? Then cry with them. Don’t try to cheer them up at first. Just be with them and try to feel what they are feeling.
What Solomon is describing is called empathy. Empathy means feeling what others feel. If my friend is sad, I feel sad too. If my friend is happy, I feel happy too. Many people never learn how to have empathy. Why? Because selfishness gets in the way. We always want to put our own feelings first and not our friend’s.
Jesus is the most empathic person ever. When others wept, he wept. When others rejoiced, he rejoiced. And now that Jesus lives in our hearts by the Holy Spirit he feels everything we feel. Did you know that it’s OK to feel sad? Jesus felt sad a lot. And when you feel sad, so does he. He feels what you feel. Jesus doesn’t sing silly songs to you when your sad. He cries with you and comforts you simply by understanding. Not by making jokes or trying to cheer you up.
Because of Jesus we know God understands our sadness.
With Jesus we can understand others and feel what they feel.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Watch Pixar’s Inside Out for a good look at the importance of sadness.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, help me to be an understanding and empathetic friend like you. Amen.
TLICfamily 