Have you ever felt lonely, afraid, or troubled, and cannot think of anyone who really wants to talk with you about your situation? When life takes a turn for the worse, do we feel like talking with someone about it is a burden we don't want to place on anyone?
Well, maybe I am the only person who has had troubles but could find no one to share them with. There have been many times I, desperately, desired a friendly ear to share my troubles or concerns with. All too often, people are busy, too busy. Some are completely disinterested. Still others really don't care. Even worse, we may have experienced people who take the time and pretend to care but only listen half heartedly and really don't care. I have experienced such a conversation more than a few times over the years and I think I would rather be ignored than spend time with someone who is disinterested.
If we have experienced such times, then it is no great leap to realize others have experienced the same situation. Life has dealt them a huge burden and there is no one around that is empathetic. Being empathetic is expressing feelings of sysmpathy or compassion toward the other person's situation.
Sometimes when struggles strike, people will try to "fix" the situation or offer solutions. Often, they offer those things out of sincere concern. Sometimes, that may be what we are looking for and sometimes people are more comfortable being asked to help in that way. I think it may be more often all we may want is an ear and the comfort of knowing there is someone out there who cares about us. Why does it seem it might be more difficult to find a person who will listen and care rather than offer advice? Why does it seem people are more uncomfortable being asked to listen and be empathetic rather than devise a plan to correct the situation?
I have probably used this old saying before but God gave us two ears and one mouth and perhaps that was because He wants us to listen twice as much as we talk. Something difficult may be going on and out of the goodness and concern my wife has for me, she will occasionally start rattling off ways to correct things. Nine times out if ten, I just want to share the issue and have her listen and care.
There was a time I had a particular friend I could call and tell him I was having a Home Depot moment. That comment brought a chuckle because such a store had all kinds of solutions to deal with and fix just about any problem. His immediate response would be, "Starbucks in an hour?" To which I always agreed!
We would enjoy a latte and somehow just sharing made the issue smaller and the burden lighter. Solutions to the issue were not discussed and the problem would not be solved but knowing someone cared enough to stop their life long enough for a latte made the situation more bearable.
Let's face it. When tough times come, we do feel alone for the problem is ours alone to bear. We may feel we are up to our eyeballs in difficulty and know we alone can make things right but it is sure nice to think someone cares about us enough to listen. Wouldn't it be great if you were that person? Who knows, maybe you would end up buying a gift card for yourself so you would always have the funds to treat yourself to a latte with a friend!
It is really not that hard to be that person for someone else. We simply have to slow down and realize everything we have to do is not the most important thing on the planet. All we have to do is realize being available to listen to a friend is a pretty high calling.
Check out 1 Peter 5:7 NLT;
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you."
Look, it is not like God is sitting around all day watching Dr. Phil! He is pretty busy running the universe, saving souls, standing in hospital operating rooms and, well, you get the picture. If the Great and Almighty One can take a few minutes to listen to you and me whine about catching the flu while He is present for:
49,405,366 deaths so far this year
119,738,039 births so far this year
7,273,628,380 people's concerns on planet earth
Then how is it you and I are too busy to listen to a friend who is having a tough time? After all that, do you feel as bad as I do for thinking I am too busy?
God is in all of us. His love and compassion are part of being human. If we love God and know God loves us how can we not say, "I do!" when the question, "Who Cares?" is asked?
(Figures listed above were accurate at the time of writing them)