Our Daily Bread is a well-known ministry established in 1938 by Dr. M.R. DeHaan as a radio program called Detroit Bible Class. Over the years, it has expanded to offer various resources to millions of people around the globe, including podcasts, publishing, topic-based studies, as well as their well-known daily devotionals.
I was browsing through some of my writing resources when I came across a story used in one of Our Daily Bread’s devotionals which powerfully illustrated a sentiment that has captured my heart in the last couple of days: the importance and power of sympathy.
The devotional told the story of a man who put a sign on his yard, which read: “Puppies for Sale.” Several people came by to see the puppies, and among them, there was a young boy who wanted to purchase a pup but only had $2.50. When the man told him that the dogs cost $25, the young boy felt deeply disappointed. He asked if he could still see the puppies. The man quickly agreed, saying, “Of course. Maybe we can work something out.”
The young boy’s eyes beamed with joy as he watched the five little balls of fur playing around. After a while, he lifted his eyes to the gentlemen, saying: “I heard that one has a bad leg,” he said. “Yes, I’m afraid she’ll be crippled for life.” “Well, that’s the puppy I want,” the boy said. “Could I pay for her a little at a time?”
The man was surprised, saying “But she’ll always have a limp!” The young boy looked down. He then bravely pulled up one pant leg, revealing a brace. “I don’t walk well either. I guess she’ll need a lot of love and help. I sure did. It’s not so easy being crippled.”
The man’s heart was moved. He picked up the puppy and gave it to the boy. “Here, take her. I know you’ll give her a good home. And just forget about the money.”
I confess that the story touched my heart, especially this week, as I’ve understood the importance of sympathy on something I’ve never experienced before.
This past Tuesday, we have had to make the difficult decision to put our 10-year-old miniature Schnauzer to sleep. Jingles had been with our family since she was 8 weeks old and our daughters were only 6 and 2. She spent most of her days cuddling with one of us and has brought us immense joy.
I had never raised a dog from the beginning to the end of its life. She had been healthy until last Friday, when a sudden illness struck, making our beloved Jingle Bells quickly decline.
Through the years, I have heard the sadness in people’s voice as they said that their dogs had died. I have read posts on Facebook and even clicked on the sad face Emoji to show my sympathy. But truth is, I have to say, that until this week, I did not understand why losing a pet can be so difficult. Just as I truly did not understand how devastating it can be to lose a loved one until my brother-in-law died in a plane crash almost seven years ago. Just as I really did not grasp the fear that grabs one’s heart when a doctor announces a cancer diagnosis until it became reality to me on Feb. 8, 2012.
In his letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul, meditating on the comfort that he found in God while going through trials, spoke of one of the greatest purposes that arise from adversity: God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
The little boy in the story wanted to extend the unconditional love, understanding and comfort that he had received to the crippled puppy. He understood the hardships the dog had to face on a personal level. He understood a lesson that I too have grasped through each trial I face:
There is a depth of sympathy that can only be reached when we walk in someone else’s shoes. Click To TweetMay God heighten our sensitivity so we may always offer comfort to the hurting, in spite of the fact that we may not fully understand the depth of their pain. That’s the mark of a truly compassionate heart.
Sympathy is two hearts tugging at one load. — Charles Henry Parkhurst Click To TweetThis article was originally published on Patricia’s Column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday- March 16, 2019.
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Such a touching post, Patricia. May we reach out to comfort those in need as we have been comforted by God.
Blessings!
Amen, Martha! Always great to see you there. Have a blessed week!
Another great article Patricia. It is only with the humility, love and compassion of Jesus in our hearts that we can truly make available to the hurting, the healing comfort of God thus avoiding the judgment and condemnation of Job’s friends. May God continue to magnify and glofify Himself through your ministry and amazing family blessing you with many more papers to speak to the lost and hurting.
Thank you so much, Walt! I appreciate your faithful encouragement. Blessings to you,
May we learn to feel the pain of others and to enter into it in meaningful ways.
Amen, Michele. It’s such a precious gift to receive that kind of sympathy!
Have a blessed week!
Such a good reminder that our hearts grow when receiving God’s comfort so that we are better able to come alongside others experiencing the same. May we be faithful to pour out the same comfort we have received. Blessings!
Yes, Joanna! I often think of how easy it is to be caught up in the business of life and forget to minister intentionally to those who suffer. May we be ever conscious of our brothers and sisters’ pain!
So glad you joined us!
Patricia, I’m so sorry about Jingle Bells. Having lost a beloved pet and having almost lost Max a few times, I know how much they mean to us. Wonderful post on how God uses our loses to equip us to love and comfort others.
Thank you, Debbie. I know you understand how hard it is. I had no idea it would be this hard. I keep looking for her around the house 🙁
I appreciate your prayers and love. Blessings, sister!
So sorry about your loss, my parents just went through that a couple weeks ago and it was HARD on all of us!! I have to work on my sympathy at times while I’m working. In the crisis chat lines, I take two chats at a time. So it’s common for you to have Chatter A-needing help with grieving the death of a sibling and then Chatter-B complaining and upset that her friend hurt her feelings. It can be hard to have two separate ends of a line at the same time and I have to really think and relate that no matter how Chatter-B is still hurting…..very good thoughts here, great reminders?
Wow. That would be a challenge for me too! I completely understand. May God give you grace when you encounter these situations… just as you said… to understand that both are suffering, regardless of the size of their pain.
Blessings to you! So glad you joined us!
Such a great example. laurensparks.net
Thanks, Lauren!Love seeing you linkup with us!
Blessings,
What a tender post, Patricia. Our suffering often leads to a greater compassion for others. So very sorry for your loss of Jingles. I know how difficult it can be.
Blessings,
Tammy
Thank you, Tammy. I miss her so much. I appreciate your sympathy and for being part of our community!
Have a blessed weekend,
I think we can have empathy through Jesus even before we get to sympathy, so sorry about your dog, that was of the hardest decisions I had to make. I have heard that puppy story before, the one I take comfort in is a six yr. old boy watched the vet let his dog go to sleep, and commented that dogs don’t live as long as people, because they already know how to love. It appears we have a lot to learn. Bessings, Patricia.
Thank you for your sympathy, Rebecca! So grateful you are part of our community every week!
Blessings to you,
Such a beautifully written post, Patricia! Blessed to visit and link-up with you today. Thank you for sharing and thank you for hosting! And I’m so sorry for you loss. God bless you! 🙂
Thank you so much, Tai! So glad you found our linkup! I hope you Come back every week.
Blessings,