Blessed to Be a Blessing: Bear one another's burdens
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ~ Galatians 6:2
This is a good follow-up to Paul's call yesterday for a fair and balanced way of living. In a fair and balanced world, we are very much bearing each other's burdens.
And so blessing each other as we do.
Of course, bearing each other's burdens can be physical burdens, or they can be emotional ones.
It can be sharing resources, or sharing advice.
It can be helping build or work in someone's home or yard, or it can be just providing a listening ear.
It can be speaking out on their behalf, or voting for their rights.
It can be paying their bills when they can't afford to, or providing resources to the community so that together their needs can be met.
Bear one another's burdens requires deep empathy. Not sympathy or pity, but empathy.
With empathy we walk beside, move to understand, and vicariously experience what the other is experiencing.
And the blessing then goes on and on from there.
This is a good follow-up to Paul's call yesterday for a fair and balanced way of living. In a fair and balanced world, we are very much bearing each other's burdens.
And so blessing each other as we do.
Of course, bearing each other's burdens can be physical burdens, or they can be emotional ones.
It can be sharing resources, or sharing advice.
It can be helping build or work in someone's home or yard, or it can be just providing a listening ear.
It can be speaking out on their behalf, or voting for their rights.
It can be paying their bills when they can't afford to, or providing resources to the community so that together their needs can be met.
Bear one another's burdens requires deep empathy. Not sympathy or pity, but empathy.
With empathy we walk beside, move to understand, and vicariously experience what the other is experiencing.
And the blessing then goes on and on from there.
Lord, help me to take the many blessings I have from you and share them with others for the ongoing blessing of your entire creation. Amen
Thoughts for engagement:
What burdens and blessings are you being called to share?