Who needs empathy?
The short answer: We all do.
Who offers it? Not many.
Empathy is defined as “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner” (Merriam-Webster).
It’s amazing how many people don’t know how to show love to others through the expression of empathy. Most of the time we get (or give) advice or tell someone their feelings aren’t valid. In short, the person who’s sharing from his or her heart is often met with a total lack of understanding.
In light of Proverbs 18:13, wouldn’t it be better to offer a listening ear when someone is sharing feelings — whether pleasant or unpleasant — with us?
He who answers before listening — that is his folly and his shame.
If we Christians did a better job of empathizing with one another’s feelings (anger, sadness, fear, hurt, joy), we wouldn’t need counselors. We could not only put the entire counseling profession out of business, we could end divorce and raise healthy kids!!
