Christian empathy; that is what...
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Christian empathy; that is what Paul is describing. It can be expressed in person, by letter, as Paul was doing, or through the micro circuits of the phone company.
The phone rang late one evening. A mother had just returned to her home after spending the day at a hospital with her son who was just beginning to recover from a long, debilitating illness. "What now?" she thought. The caller was a friend and the message was short: "I just wanted you to know that we've thought about you many times this week and remembered you in our prayers. I know I don't know completely what you have been going through with John's illness, but we think of you at the hospital, and hold you in our hearts. Now, get some rest and we'll talk more when he's better."
And, that mother did rest well that night; better than in many nights, for she felt less alone and truly supported.
The phone rang late one evening. A mother had just returned to her home after spending the day at a hospital with her son who was just beginning to recover from a long, debilitating illness. "What now?" she thought. The caller was a friend and the message was short: "I just wanted you to know that we've thought about you many times this week and remembered you in our prayers. I know I don't know completely what you have been going through with John's illness, but we think of you at the hospital, and hold you in our hearts. Now, get some rest and we'll talk more when he's better."
And, that mother did rest well that night; better than in many nights, for she felt less alone and truly supported.
