Day 30- Are You Troubled About Anything?

Yikes, this is a tough one for me to deal with. When I was about 16, my favorite uncle killed himself and the only thing I remember saying was "Uncle Clydey (that was my pet name for him), Uncle Clydey why didn't you talk to me. Why didn't you talk to me. " Uncle Clydey was my coolest uncle, always laughing, always joking, took me everywhere with him....but I never saw his sadness. I never saw his pain. Apparently, he was dealing with some issues within his marriage that made him feel hopeless. I was too young to understand things of that nature. That spirit of suicide is a stronghold unlike any other. I made a vow 47 years ago to be more sensitive to others. Have I always kept that vow.... No but I ask daily for the wisdom to carry through. Brethren, we go through life so caught up in our feelings that we forget or choose not to see those who are hurting right next to us. The web of pain that life spins is very intricate and anyone can get tangled in it, even the strongest person you know, the most self assured person, the most jovial person. Let us ask Father daily to open our eyes, our ears and our hearts to those hurting around us and walk a mile in their moccasins. Teach us to be tender Lord. Teach us to be more like you and less like the world. Show us how to comfort those around us who are hurting. More of you and less of me. Amen

Good day family, today's devotional brought me to these two common phrases that we all probably have heard or said to someone; "I understand how you feel" or " Everything will be ok". But did we truly UNDERSTAND? Did we truly believe it would be ok or are we just talking?
I can honestly say prior to 10 years ago it was just words I said to either offer comfort or to end a conversation. I never believed in things like depression and anxiety. I just thought these were things weak minded people made up as excuses.
Then one day I had a meeting with a member of my team that suffered with anxiety. Something about how he looked when the meeting started made me really HEAR the words he was saying about the anxiety he felt answering calls and working on the computer at the same time all of a sudden I felt jittery and coincided. In my head I was like what is happening to me, but I Contour listening to him vent. I ended the conversation with this statement *I get it". I learned 2 important things at that moment, One was that I was empathic and two anxiety is a real thing. I remember going into my peers office and still feeling anxious and telling her how we need to get the gentleman done true support.
I can go on and in about other experiences I have had but my point is that I learned that just because I don't understand something doesn't mean it's not true for others. I also learned that my words have meaning and when I don't have the true words I ask The Most High to give me the words, take control of my tongue and guide me through the conversation. We must all understand that just because we do not understand an experience doesn't make it less real. And just as important it is ok not to understand one another but show love, show patience, extend grace and don't gossip about our brethren short comings. Amen