Christian Family Services Ministry

10-23-2018 – A Word to the Wise: A gentle reminder for those of us that get our feelings hurt easily.

Many people feel deeply about things, but living deeply is another matter. This requires objectivity. Behind almost ever degraded person is something in their life they felt very deeply about. But the question is what did they feel deeply about? Usually it is found to be themselves. Many people feel deeply, but the capacity to live deeply is the test of life. Feeling is an index to what is in the heart. Not a justifier of what is there.

Do you ever wonder why the small thoughtless things people do hurt you so much? Do you find yourself telling yourself to stop being so childish, that you should have the maturity to overlook these short comings in others?

If you experience these things then you have a symptom many Christians just like you suffer from, that of sensitivity. We strive to cultivate it on the one hand then wonder what to do because of it on the other. Without this sensitivity we would lack the capacity to feel deeply for others. It you see, is the “emotional eye” that causes us to feel and see the needs of others.

It is valuable to Christians; it is one of the elements that helps us to love our neighbor as ourselves. We comprehend feeling in others more deeply when we feel deeply ourselves.

But there is a balance, a safeguard for us that keeps us from being torn and destroyed by the virtue and that is understanding. If we do not allow our sensitivity to increase beyond our understanding, it will be a blessing in living, and never a stumbling block. So do not try to gain a “tougher skin”, or “harden your heart” for protection, but rather strive to increase your tolerance and understanding to meet these unkindness.