Empathy

By no means do I wish to complain. In fact, I am fully aware how blessed my life has been. I have been given almost everything a person could ask for in life.

And yet, I too have had my heart broken and my dreams dashed by the inevitable tumults of life. Although I try not to talk about it too much, I once knew a girl that I was very, very fond of. To this point in my long 23 years, she is the only girl I have ever loved. Things didn’t work out like I had hoped, and she ended it in the worst of ways.

That experience taught me a very important reality; we all have dark days. It made me want to dedicate, at least a small portion of my life to easing the pain of others. While there are many things that I could do better, I hope that at least in some small way, I have made an impact on others.

For example, this week a friend and I brought cookies to some members of our church congregation. Between work and school, I knew how hectic their lives were at times. If anything, I just wanted to reach out and be their friend.

I’m not claiming that anything I’ve done has changed the world. However, I am convinced that even the smallest acts can forever change us. For this reason, I hope to be more emphatic, and to be a friend to people around me.