Rejoicing and Mourning
By Andrew Cascio
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Romans 12:15 NIV
What a beautiful reminder. It seems pretty simple, yet we don't always do it. Such an act of kindness, an act of love to do this for your fellow man. When someone is having a great day, they just got good news, or they are excited about something, we should rejoice with them. We should share in their joy and help them to continue to enjoy it and stay in that place. We shouldn't drag them down or be jealous. Recently I had a gal tell me excitedly about a concert she had just gone to. My reply, and I looked back almost immediately in disgust with myself, "oh, I can't stand that person, she was so overplayed on the radio!" I did follow it up with a "I'm glad you had a good time though." Immediately I felt badly, why would I try and knock her down because I didn't like it? I made it about me, I was ashamed and can't wait until I see her again to apologize for my behavior.
We are also instructed to mourn with others. Everyone mourns in their own way. Some people like laughter as a coping mechanism, some people like to have a good cry, and some people may just like you to be there. Everyone has their own way to deal with things. Sometimes all you have to do is show up. It's being there for them and carrying their burden. Sometimes in life we go through difficult and painful situations. We lose a loved one, go through a divorce, lose a job, or perhaps get bad news from a doctor. We all have experienced different things, know how it felt, and know how to better handle it than others. That's when you're able to step in with love and help them in a way maybe only you can.
You know what it's like because you've been through it already. I would never have known how to talk to someone or what to say to someone who was going through a divorce if I hadn't been there myself. I know the things people said to me that were like a dagger to my heart, and I know the things that people said that wrapped me in a blanket of love. I can try my best to be there and help them through it, like others helped me. Had I not been through it, I wouldn't have been able to empathize with them on the right level and help carry their burden. When all else fails, put yourself in their position and think about how you would want to be treated.