It wasn’t the sympathy that did it.
It wasn’t the sentiments in words that did it.
It’s when he sat next to me, put his arm around my shoulder and sobbed with me.
In that moment it was like he didn’t feel for me – he felt with me.
Not just that, but the degree to which he went out of his way to show me love. The meal he took me to, the new suits he got for me and the ongoing encouragement that I could make it. That this setback did not have to define me, that this was a new day and a new opportunity to turn the setback to a set up for success.
He never gave up on me and wouldn’t let me go even when I wanted to jack it all in. He was moved to come alongside me. He was moved to understand my plight and gently chastise and challenge me where needed so I never fell into being self-absorbed.
He set me up to see the things I’d never seen before and allow me to know that what I saw could be achieved. It could be achieved when I prioritised the vertical relationship and saw that impact on the horizontal relationship. It could be achieved when I appreciated that I wasn’t the centre of the universe and the One who deserved that title was offering to reach me what it was to truly live.
You talk about life-changing, you talk about transforming – I can talk of what it was to come across someone who was moved with compassion.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 