The phone rings. You answer it, pit in stomach, and your heart breaks. The words on the other end of the phone were lethal. They were tortuous. They left you unable to eat, unable to sleep, unable to move. Your life is forever changed.
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You and your spouse dance a tango of power and pain. Suddenly, the dance ends. Legs are broken.
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Your child, helpless and innocent is criticized by his protectors with words that cut deeper than any sword could. He is crippled; handicapped for life.
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There are far more examples of pain inflicted than the few sprinkled above, but they illustrate my point. When you stand pained, stand battered, stand bruised, do you curse he who pained you? Do you consider the pain that drove him to that violence?
Countless circumstances of late have brought me to the same conclusion: hurt people hurt people. Such a revelation in no way excuses one of their responsibility to make right the wrongs they've done. However, if you consider the pains of the afflictor, perhaps it will give you the slightest of tinge of empathy for them. Your healing is dependent on such empathy.
True empathy courts mercy. Mercy births grace. Grace is life.
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