Advice #59
ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU
Ralph Sorter
It’s been 15 years since I lost my Mom and 11 years since Dad left to join her. To say there’s a hole left by their absence is an understatement…only those with similar losses really understand. I miss them tremendously…but the vacant hole is being filled up. Let me explain.
Mom was my greatest cheerleader. I wish you could see my mind’s memory of all the times she encouraged me when the chips were down. If I had to condense all the memories to one word, it would be “compassion”. You can’t overestimate the value of compassion. It puts the wind behind the sails when you are drifting. It’s what lifts the burden when the load is too heavy.
Anyone can criticize, but it takes a big person to be compassionate. I’ve come to believe compassion increases your stature and criticism diminishes it. No greater burden can be put on someone’s heart than to know no one cares or understands. I can’t begin to think how much heavier the burden would have been upon Jesus had His mother not been there at the foot of the cross. She helped instill compassion in His heart…and here He was demonstrating with the greatest sacrifice of all that He is compassionate towards us. I can’t help but think the blades of grass surrounding that small circle at the foot of the cross were covered with dew…because the dew of compassion is a tear. Oh yes, it was hard for her to be there and watch what was done to her son and be powerless to rescue Him. But she gave Him the last serving of compassion that He would receive from her by not abandoning Him. Can you imagine how hard that must have been?
But know this…though compassion is hard to give away, you are never devoid of it because it keeps coming back.
And that’s why the hole in my heart is continually being filled…because I’m giving away the compassion my Mom gave to me. Thanks, Mom, for the priceless lesson!
A Message from HOPE’S
Marriage & Family Ministry
ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU
Ralph Sorter
It’s been 15 years since I lost my Mom and 11 years since Dad left to join her. To say there’s a hole left by their absence is an understatement…only those with similar losses really understand. I miss them tremendously…but the vacant hole is being filled up. Let me explain.
Mom was my greatest cheerleader. I wish you could see my mind’s memory of all the times she encouraged me when the chips were down. If I had to condense all the memories to one word, it would be “compassion”. You can’t overestimate the value of compassion. It puts the wind behind the sails when you are drifting. It’s what lifts the burden when the load is too heavy.
Anyone can criticize, but it takes a big person to be compassionate. I’ve come to believe compassion increases your stature and criticism diminishes it. No greater burden can be put on someone’s heart than to know no one cares or understands. I can’t begin to think how much heavier the burden would have been upon Jesus had His mother not been there at the foot of the cross. She helped instill compassion in His heart…and here He was demonstrating with the greatest sacrifice of all that He is compassionate towards us. I can’t help but think the blades of grass surrounding that small circle at the foot of the cross were covered with dew…because the dew of compassion is a tear. Oh yes, it was hard for her to be there and watch what was done to her son and be powerless to rescue Him. But she gave Him the last serving of compassion that He would receive from her by not abandoning Him. Can you imagine how hard that must have been?
But know this…though compassion is hard to give away, you are never devoid of it because it keeps coming back.
And that’s why the hole in my heart is continually being filled…because I’m giving away the compassion my Mom gave to me. Thanks, Mom, for the priceless lesson!
A Message from HOPE’S
Marriage & Family Ministry
ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU
Ralph Sorter
It’s been 15 years since I lost my Mom and 11 years since Dad left to join her. To say there’s a hole left by their absence is an understatement…only those with similar losses really understand. I miss them tremendously…but the vacant hole is being filled up. Let me explain.
Mom was my greatest cheerleader. I wish you could see my mind’s memory of all the times she encouraged me when the chips were down. If I had to condense all the memories to one word, it would be “compassion”. You can’t overestimate the value of compassion. It puts the wind behind the sails when you are drifting. It’s what lifts the burden when the load is too heavy.
Anyone can criticize, but it takes a big person to be compassionate. I’ve come to believe compassion increases your stature and criticism diminishes it. No greater burden can be put on someone’s heart than to know no one cares or understands. I can’t begin to think how much heavier the burden would have been upon Jesus had His mother not been there at the foot of the cross. She helped instill compassion in His heart…and here He was demonstrating with the greatest sacrifice of all that He is compassionate towards us. I can’t help but think the blades of grass surrounding that small circle at the foot of the cross were covered with dew…because the dew of compassion is a tear. Oh yes, it was hard for her to be there and watch what was done to her son and be powerless to rescue Him. But she gave Him the last serving of compassion that He would receive from her by not abandoning Him. Can you imagine how hard that must have been?
But know this…though compassion is hard to give away, you are never devoid of it because it keeps coming back.
And that’s why the hole in my heart is continually being filled…because I’m giving away the compassion my Mom gave to me. Thanks, Mom, for the priceless lesson!