A young boy was sent to the corner store by his mother to buy a loaf of bread. He was gone much longer than it should have taken him. When he finally returned, his mother asked, “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you.”
“Well,” he answered, “ there was a little boy with a broken bike who was crying. So I stopped to help him.”
“I didn’t know you knew anything about fixing bikes,” his mother said.
“I don’t,” he replied. “I just stayed there and cried with him.
A sweet story... but I can already hear you shouting into your computer...
“Crying doesn’t help that kid get his bike fixed!”
“Was it worth worrying his mom just to make somebody feel better?”
“I would have done..... “
“That kid should have....”
I know. Our tendency is to read a story like this and think how it could have been handled better. Maybe it’s our desire to be problem-solvers. Perhaps it’s because at the pace of our day, we aren’t able to appreciate just stopping to empathize. It could be that we don’t see the point of crying...
Whatever the case, God has a verse written just for us as to how we are to react when we hear the story of or are brought into another’s situation.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15
Today’s verse from Romans tells how to react when we hear news...both good and bad. God says that we are to celebrate when somebody else is celebrating and cry with them when they are hurting. Easier said than done.
When people around you are full of joy and loving life, what is your first reaction? Go ahead... be honest. You’re the only one that knows that answer. I think some people genuinely love to see others happy... And some don’t. In fact, when they see people celebrating they look for ways to sabotage it. Maybe it’s feeling overwhelming jealousy, or sharing the “real reason” they got it, or putting on a bad mood so that the attention is brought to them. Whatever the case, God wants us to return the high-five, put on the party hat, and with a genuine spirit of joy... join in the laughter. If they are being showered with blessings... run in the rain with them! Life is too short to experience only your own happiness.
And if they are saddened, disheartened, feeling overcome or beaten up... cry with them. Scripture tells us to mourn with those who are mourning. This doesn’t mean a para-sympathetic tap on the shoulder with an obligatory “it’ll be ok” God’s telling us to imagine ourselves in their shoes. I’m talking a feel it WITH them type of reaction. I know what you might be thinking... Pastor, I have enough troubles of my own.. I can’t take on the pain of others.
Being a Christ-follower means we are to live each day trying to be more like Him. The reason He came to Earth was to save us and make sure we knew that He understands. He’s felt every pain, endured every heartbreak, and taken on every struggle. If we are going to be more Christ-like... we have to do what He did...and love the people He loves.
Jesus Christ knows how bad it hurts. He is intimately involved with every circumstance and records every tear. We need to do our very best to be like that too...
Get involved. Get your hands-dirty. Walk two miles in their shoes. Share a box of tissues with those that are broken. Don’t shy away from others’ pain... because one day, you’ll need them and the comfort that comes from the hug of a close friend.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15
This verse isn’t just a way to make others feel good... it’s the roadmap to our growth in Christ.
