Tenderhearted part 2
I like the chapter in 2 Peter where it talks about adding things. Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge... like that. But the part I really like about it is 2 Peter 1:4, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." Because, as always, God doesn't expect anything from us that He doesn't first provide to us and for us. He gave us exceeding great and precious promises. He gave us everything we need. That's why the first thing we add to is our faith. Faith is what makes everything else happen. You can't add anything to the foundation if you don't know what the foundation is. Faith is knowing and believing that we are who God says we are and we have what God says we have. Now. I said all that to say this: In our key verse we see "...forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). All we can do is receive and release what God has given us. We do, because He has done. We add, because He has given us things to add. We don't do in order to be, we do because we be. We're not trying to earn anything from our heavenly Father, we're simply sharing what He has freely given us. That, to me, is the key to being tenderhearted. The key to having compassion. Because, for the most part, people are self-centered. It's very hard for people to see past themselves. When you're focused on your own needs, you can't really help anybody else with theirs. And, listen, I know that when you ride an airplane they tell you to put on your own oxygen mask before trying to help someone else with theirs. I get that. You can't always do more than just getting through the day. Sometimes that's literally all you can do. And overextending yourself doesn't help. It doesn't help you, or them, or anybody. What I'm saying is what I always say: Do what you can do. And let that be enough. Be tenderhearted enough to see those needs in others. Compassionate enough. Sympathetic enough. Don't kick people when they're down. And this is a big lesson I think we need to learn: You can say no to someone without crushing them. You can (at least try) to let them understand that you have limits and boundaries. That doesn't mean you don't love them. Saying no is not saying "I don't love you." Saying no means, "I can't do that right now." Or it means, "I love you, but I'm not going to enable you." That doesn't make you mean. It doesn't make you a bad person. Self-care IS important. The trick is to make sure you don't become hard-hearted. Because... in all honesty... you can't do everything for everyone. And you're not supposed to. So do what you CAN do, and don't feel bad about what you can't. Do what you CAN do and let that be enough. Take what God has given you (fight the good fight of faith... know and believe He has given it, and you have it) and share it. Give what you've got. Be who you are. Love when and where you can. But don't feel bad about it when and where you can't. Shrug your shoulders and move on. Keep a soft heart. Do what you can do. Be who you are. Love who and where and when you can!