Philippians 2:4 “Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
I am the oldest of seven children. There is a 15 year age difference between me and my youngest sibling. Math will tell you my mom and dad had been very busy in that fifteen year time frame. On the day I married my husband, my little sister was in the first grade. The atmosphere around my house leading up to the big day was all about the wedding. We had so much to do and in my sister’s world this was one important event. In the morning when we were all leaving to head to the church, my sister looked a little confused. She looked at me and said, “How come all of our neighbors are not dressed up and following us to church? “ Of course some of our neighbors were attending, but not all. In her small world, whatever was going on in our small house should be impacting everyone around us.
I too felt that same way after the death of my daughter. We were on the way to church for my daughter’s memorial service and I too felt confused as I glanced out the car window. I saw people walking and driving, headed in all directions. How could they not know? How could they not be attending this life changing event that has caused a crashing blow to our little house? Did they not understand the world would never be the same without the presence of this beautiful child! I too was living only in my small world. As I was driving past all these houses on my way to church, I am sure many of these homes also had a crushing blow that changed their home forever. They too must wonder how others cannot know the tribulations that have fallen on them. Those blows that can enter into our lives are too many to list. We never know what is going on inside the lives of others. Hurt and pain are sometimes easy to hide. We often can put on that happy face while all the while we are slowly dying inside. Sometimes we can look at another as they complain about their lives and shake our heads. There is no way to measure another’s pain. To them, their trial at the time looks like the hardest thing. This is where we can take the high road and be gracious. We can reach out to others in kindness and offer a helping hand even if we are overwhelmed in our own pain. Once we offer others a hand up, we will find instantly a lift in our own spirit. So I challenge you to look around and find a house where there is pain. I assure you, your heart won’t have to look too far.
Lord, when we are grieving, it is a small world; help us today to make the world a little bigger and our heart more open to others who are hurting.
Michele
