Have You Walked in My Shoes? - Encouragement Café - December 27, 2017
Have You Walked in My Shoes?
By Noelle Dey
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
“You should be thankful you had your mom for 63 years.”
Her words held truth. But the anguish in my heart was relentless. My mom wasn’t there for my wedding day. She didn’t know about our dreams to adopt. She never heard “Grandma!” squealed from a toddler’s lips.
She didn’t feel sticky fingers on her face. My mom was supposed to be the first beaming face to greet us at the airport when we came home from China with our 19-pound miracle.
“The studies said she would only live a year. But she lived six more after her diagnosis!”
Yes, that too is factual. But my mom spent the majority of those days in bed, desperately trying to sleep off the side effects of her toxic chemo regimens.
Six years look good on paper, but they can’t begin to explain the heartache that comes when your mom weighs 70 pounds and she moans in pain when you try to help her sit upright.
Well-meaning friends and acquaintances quoted scripture and pointed their fingers at the silver lining in my storm.
Their efforts were truly beautiful. But I felt so lonely and empty.
I called my dear friend for a counseling appointment. I didn’t know where else to turn.
When I arrived, he didn’t speak a word. His eyes filled with tears. He sat with me and we both sipped coffee. Finally, he whispered, “I’m so sorry.” We cried together.
And through his deep compassion, God flooded me with comfort.
Had I not experienced this act of deep healing, I would have tried to mend broken hearts with scripture and helping others see the bright side of their trials. Certainly there is a time for these acts of kindness.
But there’s also the gift of giving God’s comfort by sitting in someone’s pain with them.
Just as my pastor personified 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, I strive to pay that forward so I can comfort others with this same comfort I received from God Himself.
Has God worked through someone special in your life? How can you take that gift and pay it forward?
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the God of all comfort. Thank You for comforting us in our trials. Show us in practical ways how we can take that comfort and pay it forward into others’ lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
© 2017 by Noelle Dey. All rights reserved.
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