Good morning…
“This blessing is for you!!! ❤️❤️❤️,” she emailed me first thing yesterday. She kindly shared these loving words which beautifully began my day.
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A blessing for everyday empathy by Kate Bowler
Blessed are you, the sensitive one,
attuned to the feelings of others,
for empathy is yours to give.
Blessed are you with the emotional bandwidth to hear hard things,
without fixing or minimizing or deflecting,
for true presence is yours to bring.
Blessed are you, the faithful witness to suffering
who chooses to show up without judgment
with little gifts or small acts of practical help,
for compassion is yours to embody.
Blessed are you who sees the reality
that you cannot soak up and carry away the troubles all around
lest you be overwhelmed,
for your empathy is a precious gift
that needs to be balanced and protected.
Blessed are you who stand ready to pivot
According to the Spirit’s direction.
To find solace and comfort
that you might be shielded, renewed and restored.
To receive in order that you might give again.
O God, blessed are You,
for dancing us down pathways of everyday empathy,
And all for the joy of it!
Amen.
******
“Oh thank you,” I replied. “What an honor to be seen through these gorgeous words. You and I are both gifted with the everyday empathy of God and it is such a joyful way to live. Thank you for the sweet encouragement!”
“You are one of a kind and I’m so lucky you are in my life,” she responded. “Your messages these last two days have been so uplifting and a wonderful reminder to slow down – enjoy the pauses that God brings naturally and accept them as good and not stress. I hope I can mirror that too – especially for my kids. Life has such beauty if we work each day to notice it. xoxoxo.”
…and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us (Ephesians 5:2a, AMP).
Fully loved by the living Christ, who is deeply attuned to the feelings of us all, we hear hard things without trying to fix. Without casting judgement, we show up to witness suffering up close and personally. Always ready to pivot in the Spirit’s direction, we are inspired to share little gifts and small acts of practical help. Empowered by God every single day, we dance down pathways of empathy for the joy of it all! Each of us is invited to embody the truth of Galatians 2:20 (ERV): So I am not the one living now—it is Christ living in me.
This blessing is for you, you who trust that Christ’s presence is the best gift you will ever bring.
…Sue…
