Rejoice

           Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15)

This is another of those difficult things we’re called to do. When the going gets rough for us, we’re supposed to rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn? We’re just trying to make it through the day, and now we’re supposed to drop everything and get all emotional about someone else’s problems or successes? That selfish part of ourselves rears up its ugly head and says, “Where are they when I want to rejoice, or when I feel the need to mourn? Why don’t they see how much I need? Why do I always have to be strong for everyone?”

And the truth is, that the ugly, selfish part of us is precisely the voice we need to listen to – for just long enough to match the feeling to the need. Once we do that, we should recognize that what we’re feeling is what the one who is rejoicing or mourning feels. What we need is what they need. What we want is what they want. And if we can turn from our jealousy and our needs to meet theirs, we may find them more able to meet ours, or we may find that we don’t need as much anymore.

Perhaps more importantly, as we acknowledge our own neediness in those moments before we reach out to help another, we should realize that just as that person needs someone stronger to rejoice or mourn, so we need someone stronger not only to rejoice or mourn, but to comfort, strengthen, and help, and that should turn our attention to God, giving to Him the struggle we face as we turn to be His help to the other person.