I am blessed to say that within a few days, I will be turning 63 years old. I am grateful for the opportunity to not only live another year, but also have the honor and privilege to sow into the lives of others regularly. As we grow older, we begin to think about our lives and our contributions, and we wonder if they made a difference.
Sometimes the things we do in life can be hard to measure by man’s standards as they relate to success or being significant, but when we look at what we do from the perspective of God’s eyes, if we are helping others and trying to add something positive by showing compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and empathy, it truly is making a positive difference.
Recently, during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, I was moved by many of the speakers. One phrase that stood out to me was when the First Gentleman, Doug Emhoff, spoke about his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris. He mentioned that sometimes she can be misunderstood because of her big, beautiful smile and laugh, but he highlighted that her empathy is her strength. When he said that statement it resonated with me deeply because that is truly how I have tried to live my life.
Empathy is described as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, which is different from the emotion of being sympathetic. Empathy involves recognizing emotions in someone else, imagining how they might feel, and responding with care and consideration.
It is said that sympathy is when you care, but empathy goes one step further by having the ability to feel what the other person is going through. Extending empathy can play a crucial role in authentically building strong relationships with people and opening doors of communication and understanding.
On the other hand, strength is about endurance, resilience, and the ability to handle difficult situations. When you possess a quiet strength, it can be incredibly powerful because people often underestimate you and your capabilities. Strength can come in various forms, including physical, mental, emotional, and moral, but in this context, I am specifically referring to inner strength. Inner strength is a combination of mental and emotional durability.
This type of strength allows an individual to face life’s challenges with confidence and grace. People with this kind of strength believe in themselves and others, and they never give up. Being empathetic and extending attributes such as kindness and forgiveness can get exhausting when we do not feel valued or appreciated, but Galatians 6:9 in the Bible reminds us, “Let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”
During this political season, there has been a lot of turmoil and fighting among friends, family, and neighbors about who is the better candidate, and I feel that some people are putting not only a particular party before our country, but even an individual before their party and before what is best for America. This is a perfect example of where our strength must come in and show empathy towards those who may be lost or confused.
Former President Barack Obama said just like we would have patience if one of our grandparents said something a little off-kilter, well we must extend the same grace (and empathy) towards others that are a little off-kilter right now. We can learn to love our neighbors and people in general who do not look like us, think like us, love like us, speak like us, pray like us, vote like us, or feel like us.
Just love them, no exceptions. This is truly showing your strength through empathy.
Healing Without Hate: It’s a choice. It’s a lifestyle. Pass it on.
Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more.
Wendy is a life strategist, coach, consultant, author, and speaker.
