It’s Best Said In What You Do

There are times when we find those around us suffering. When a friend gets the call no one ever wants to get, the diagnosis comes back worse than expected, when tragedy strikes those around us. It can be a very helpless feeling to try and provide comfort to those is the midst of such pain. We don’t want to say the wrong thing and make it worse. We don’t want to say nothing and seem as if we don’t care.  It is hard to know what to say that will help.

In John 11, Jesus was faced with the same type of dilemma. Two women he loved had lost the brother they all loved. His friends were questioning how he was handling the situation. Mary and Maratha blamed him for his death. So what did Jesus say and do?

            Jesus comforted Martha with words that reminded her of her faith. Those words I am sure helped but notice what he did as the sisters came together. He wept. Their pain and suffering became his own. He expressed his love by weeping with them. His action, his love, his presence, his concern, spoke deeper than just his words.

 Many times suffering people don’t need lessons or advice or even answers to their questions. They need to know someone else cares and feels their pain. We don’t have to say much but to show our love.