I posted this quote recently. If the number of “likes” is any indicator, it touched a lot of hearts.

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” Henri Nouwen

Six years ago I was in a toxic relationship. The logical decision was to escape. Quickly! Loving friends and family told me so, over and over. The more they said the less I listened. I knew it was the right thing to do but all I could feel was the pain.

One friend took a different approach. She’d been through a similar situation and was among the most qualified to dispense advice. Instead, she listened. I poured out my heart to her and she listened. She cried when I cried. She shared her story and handled mine carefully, with tenderness. I will never forget it.

Giving advice and offering solutions comes easily. Entering into someone else’s story, feeling their wounds: that demands more of me. God entered into our story when He put on flesh and took every demand of our sin and sickness and mess upon Himself. Instead of dispensing the cure, He became the cure and His wounds relieve ours.

Words fail me, I breathe gratitude.