Be Someone's Shoulder

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." - Romans 12:15

Whilst reading my devotions yesterday morning, I was praying about what to write on my blog this week. I always get an idea and then try and see if there have been any examples of it during my work at Rehoboth in the past week. As I flicked to my page in my devotions, I stumbled across the Bible passage from Romans and things began to slot into place, the rabbit working the controls in my head started turning the cogs and my ideas started flowing. Happy Reading.

I remember reading a story from America not so long ago about a minister who had to tell the parents of a twelve year old boy that he had drowned at a church outing. Some while later the parents told about the moment he told of their son's fate.
"Rev. Allen didn't preach to us or tell us to be brave. He broke into tears and wept with us. We will always love him for that." This was the spirit Paul captured when he admonished believers to "rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that weep."

We live in a world today where so many of us are afraid to show sentiment. We hold back from the comforting arm around the shoulder as we are bothered about what people will think. We would rather be the priest who walks past on the other side of the road than the samaritan that stops and cares. Maybe it's our stiff upper lip, "we'll fight them on the beaches" british reservation to show empathy. Maybe it's down to our upbringing, our schooling, our surroundings or maybe it's our self image. We'd rather stand back and let someone cry alone, than swallow our pride and be the reassuring hand.

Yet if we look at the Bible there are countless occurences of great men being moved to tears. David is the most vivid example, and even Christ wept over the city of Jerusalem. We say we live by the example of Jesus but yet we do not live by his caring example.

I had this problem. I used to put self image before the betterment of others. At work I would see people obviously distressed and carry on, not willing to take the time to see their situation and what their problem is. If you note, I used the word 'had' this problem because being here, you simply can't live with that attitude. By coming here you volunteer to be like an extra body part to these children. You go through what they go through. You laugh when they laugh. You cry when they cry. Blow the reservations or the self image.

A perfect example of this was last wednesday. Some of the children were booked in for check-ups at the hospital. A lot of the children suffer from ear problems, so we went to the hospital with 7 children to let the doctor see them. The youngest boy there, was a 2 year old, that I had in my arms. This was a boy that lived in the hospital the first six months of his life. He has been to the hospital more times than anyone cares to remember. The doctor saw the other children first then called for the 2 year old. As soon as I moved to stand up, he gripped my shirt and buried his face in my chest. The fear of this child was so evident it was scary. We went into the booth and he sat on my lap as the doctor started checking his ears. At first he was ok, but then started the whimpers. I looked in the reflective glass in front of us and saw his eyes fill up as his bottom lip quivered. Almost instantly, I felt my throat tighten up and my lip started to shake. The doctor carried on despite the whimpers and completed the check-up. I sat there, tears beading down my face, as this little 2 year old boy sat sobbing on my lap.

It was wednesday night after cell and I sat in my room thinking about what had happened that day. I turned to my Bible and the marker in was in at Psalm 126:5,6.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

This is why I am challenging us all to resolve to show our sentiment today, as the oppurtunity arises. With those who have been most fortunate and are basking in the joy of recent accomplishments or blessings may we sincerely rejoice and thank God. With those whose hearts have been broken may we share their grief, feeling deeply for them and reaching out ot them in love.

Have a great week,

Rob

I would like to take this oppurtunity to offer my condolences to the Taylor family who lost their Granma this week.

James 4:8 - "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."