Empathy or Ownership?

What can we learn from God's handiwork, his gem of wisdom, the opal?

Opal: Empathy is the ability to understand

another person’s feelings or difficulties.
(From Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life, chapter 3.)

Common opal earrings from the Gems of Wisdom line of jewelry that helps support the Sanctuary of Hope Orphan Homes

 Proverbs 17: 17 says, A friend loves at all times, and a brother was born for a difficult time.

It's so easy to want to fix things for the people we love. But in reality, the beauty of sharing another's burden isn't that we take it from them but that we walk through it with them. We love, listen, and are present when that friend needs someone to hear their pain. It's especially comforting to walk along side when you've "been there, done that" before. That experience is exactly what gives you empathy, understanding for their pain or stress. Don't try to steal away those problems from your friend. You'll be pirating their blessing of empathy to later share with someone else. 

May you be full of empathy and aware of the friends that need it.

Angie