I received a wonderful phone call recently, but I will get back to that in a moment.
If you have been keeping up with my blogs (or speaking with me directly) you know that it has been a very challenging year for me and my sweet little kitty, Mulligan. She has been very ill and has gone to the vet more in 8 months than one baby girl should ever have to in a lifetime (see blog titled Hope http://byhiswell.org/view/?permalink=hope). After 5 months of multiple symptoms and taking medications with awful side effects, Mulligan underwent radioactive iodine therapy to treat her hyperthyroidism. Her 1-month follow-up blood work showed some worrisome results- low white and red blood cell counts as well as abnormal kidney function. We recently went to the Veterinarian for her 3-month follow-up appointment (here is where we get back to that phone call) and I was informed that her blood work results were “perfect” (direct quote from Vet tech). I received this call while at work and when it ended, I immediately started crying. I do not usually display such emotions at work, but I was so overwhelmed with gratitude and relief, I found it impossible to contain them. I then shared the happy news with friends, family, and co-workers who shared in my joy, as they also have been sharing in my sadness and concern along the way.
Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
As I look back on this 8-month journey, I realize that it is not only her recovery that I am to be grateful for. I have also learned many lessons and have been blessed because of all we have endured. Because God knows all and is perfect, this was absolutely the very best way for me to obtain both the lessons and the blessings. I believe that one of the most valuable lessons leading to one of the greatest blessings received was the importance of and then the increased ability to have empathy for others. I wrote a blog in April 2021 titled, Suffering is Good (http://byhiswell.org/view/?permalink=suffering-is-good-), here is a quote from it- “Suffering creates empathy, providing us with the opportunity to be a source of comfort and encouragement to those enduring the same type of suffering.” The following was the supporting verse to this thought.
2 Corinthians 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.”
Every time we suffer, in both big and small ways, and then reach the other side of it, we are blessed with the ability to empathize with others. This empathy gives us the opportunity to provide much needed comfort to other hurting souls. Each episode of suffering then becomes another weapon of grace and love in our arsenal, allowing us to bear arms alongside our fellow believers as well as to show God’s love and compassion to unbelievers. As I consider this blessing, I am reminded of our Lord and Savior, who suffered to a greater degree than any other creature ever born. As we read in Scripture, Jesus’ life here on Earth, which was fraught with suffering, allowed Him to empathize with us.
Hebrews 2:17-18 “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
There are many reasons for our suffering and many blessings which result from it. The fact that we are able to better connect with and support those in our lives is truly a gift and a beautiful example of God’s grace.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
So, as I sit here and watch my lovely little companion nap in the sun, I thank God for healing both her body and my heart. I also consider how grateful to Him I am for expanding my heart, filling it with more empathy and compassion for others.
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
P.S. If you have been supporting Mulligan and me in any way through all of this, thank you so much. I appreciate every moment you listened, every comforting word you spoke, and every second you spent in prayer on our behalf. I am grateful for you!
Love in Christ,
Monica Ledford