Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep

I recently read a little story about a little girl that touched my heart. It
seems that this little girl was late coming home for supper one evening.
When she got home her parents were understandably upset. He questioned her
about why she had been so late, after all they had worried about her!

The Little girl said, "I stopped to help Marcie, she had a wreck on her
bicycle and it was broken." Her father said, "But you don't know anything
about fixing bicycles!" To which the little girls replied, "I know, but
stopped to help her cry."

Now you may or may not know anything about fixing bicycles, or cars, or
washing machines, or refrigerators or much of anything else. But when
friends have broken things in their lives and are in despair, we can help
them with that! The truth is that you are rarely in the position of being
able to fix the brokenness of someone's life, but you can help them cry
about it. You can encourage them and help them through the hard times in
life!

Paul wrote in Romans 12:15, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with
those who weep." (KJV). I kind of like a modern translation of that verse
that says, "Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy: share tears
when they're down." (MSG)

We are entering into that time of the year when you are more apt to notice
the sorrow or rejoicing of those around you. You may take more notice of
people (or groups) trying to relieve the difficulties of those who are
struggling to make it in or world. People take up collections of money, food
and clothing to help those who might be less fortunate than we. They try to
help folks who are struggling just to make ends meet. So count your
blessings and do what you can, but if you have nothing to help with
physically, then share their sorrow or suffering; cry with them!

On the other hand we are also entering into a time of rejoicing! It is a
time of thanksgiving when people take time to count their blessings, thank
God. I wonder however, if we rejoice in the right things? I read of an old
man who was very poor. His cloths were tattered and his shoes had holes in
them. Some people who lived near by gathered some clothes and several pairs
of shoes and left them on his doorstep one night. The next morning he ran to
his friend's house praising God. He said, "Rejoice with me !" "God is so
good, someone left clothes and shoes on my doorstep last night and I met
some folks this morning who were in need of them."

So, sometimes we cry and sometimes we rejoice with folks, even if we don't
necessarily understand why they are crying or rejoicing. Psalm 92:1 Tells
us, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD…" (KJV) I may not
always understand it, but I believe it anyway! Let's all do it now!

Russ Lawson