Wednesday, March 27, 2019

SABRINA Helen Keller once said, The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, but must be felt with the heart. Empathy is a feeling. It is different from sympathy, tolerance, even compassion. Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone. Empathy is the ability to understand another person=s experiences. I choose to believe the majority of people in this world are good and want to live in a more caring compassionate world, but they are just unsure how to make a difference. For me, it can be summed up by what Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40 - ATruly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did to Me.” When we read this, we understand Jesus is telling us that in order to have true empathy, you must do something. It is no longer a feeling, but requires action. One of the best ways to understand people whose lives may be different from ours is to be of service - what better time than during this season of Lent than to volunteer at Loves Kitchen, Habitat, Care Lodge, Meals on Wheels, Special Needs, a rehab facility - visit a nursing home, the list is endless. At one time or another, we have all been the recipient of empathy – when we simply needed someone to understand us. Let us now be aware of how we can pass that gift on and, hopefully, make this world a better place. It IS what Jesus would have us do!