Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
–Romans 12:15
In the early 90s when the Gulf War had just ended, I heard George H. W. Bush give a speech about the decision to go to war with Iraq. He talked about the night before he gave the “go” signal, and that he spent significant time in prayer, weeping for the lives he knew would be lost on both sides.
Now, some political observers took that to task. “Why would our President be speaking of his tears? Are these just phony political tears? Is this man emotionally stable enough to be our President?”
I, for one, am grateful for a President who, before he sent a nation to war, was on his face before God and didn’t simply drop bombs without compassion. It takes a big man to get down on his knees and pray, and to weep! We’re told big boys don’t cry. But the truth is that real men of God do cry because they have a heart of compassion.
As Christians, you and I are called to not have a heart of stone, but one of compassion. We’re commanded to sympathize with the plight of others who suffer. So don’t feel like you have to always “hold it together.” Instead, be open to showing compassion toward others and let them know you care.
HAVE A HEART OF COMPASSION AND SHOW OTHERS YOU CARE BY SYMPATHIZING WITH THEIR SUFFERING.
