About the Author

Jennifer Dukes Lee is the author of several books, including Growing Slow. She and her husband live on the family farm, raising crops, pigs, and two humans. She’s a fan of dark chocolate, emojis, eighties music, bright lipstick, and Netflix binges. She wants to live life in such a way...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

  1. Let’s stop photoshopping the snot out of everything! Indeed! Our search for & defining of perfect doesn’t work. Only the Trinity set the definition of perfect & can make us perfect. Let’s let Him & be kind to those in our boat along the way. Great encouragement, Jennifer. Blessings.

  2. Jennifer,
    Your title drew me in. On a scale of 1-10, this empath ranks about a 12. Like you, even as a child, I deeply felt others pain. I quickly, learned, however, that most people weren’t like that. Some scientists even propose there is a gene linked to the amount of empathy people feel toward others. I think you hit the nail on the head — look to Jesus. His is the truest form of empathy and compassion we can point to. “Jesus wept.” Those are two of the most powerful words in scripture. In our cold and fragile world, may we heed the call to be “our brother’s keeper” — even if we have snot running from our nose for the world to see. Lovely post.
    Blessings,
    Bev

    • Bev! Good to see your comment today! You have been missed. It is good to see people emerging from the effects of the past few years events, as I too am finally regaining my creativity that seemed to melt away during that time. Blessings to you! Kim K

      • Kim,
        Thanks for missing me — your comment really made my day! I guess I needed a hiatus from the world, but realize now, more than ever, we need to be light in these dark days and times. Joining with you in getting the creative juices flowing again. Thank you again for your sweet words.
        Blessings,
        Bev

        • Gosh your name brought back memories of your blog! I used to read it all the time and had no clue what happened to it! Hugs to you, Bev!

    • Hey there, Bev! It’s so great to hear from you. I hadn’t heard about the scientists’ theory about the gene linked to empathy. How fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing. We love when you’re here.

    • Bev,

      Glad to see you are back. Missed you. I follow you on Facebook, so have kept up with you. Wondered where you went. Again glad to see you back with us.

      XXXXXXXXXX Hugs

      Blessings 🙂

  3. Aren’t beautiful memories such a beautiful gift from God! Sweet article that I related to! Made me smile all the way through! And so true, so few show empathy in this world today. I am thankful that God gave me a heart that feels so much so very deeply.

  4. I wholeheartedly agree, Jennifer! And I will try to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem!

  5. I feel like this is the best thing I have read on here! Thank you for seeing and writing truth ❤️

  6. How true today and very sad . God made us for relationships not for self reliance . To encourage and to be encouraged . People are messy . Relationships difficult . Yet they add life to being alive . Be the Good Shepherd- reach out and you too will be blest ‼️

  7. We live in a fragmented, and “cold” world. Your narrative brings back childhood memories, where empathy was evident around me. Communication seems to have a back seat.
    “JESUS wept,” is such a powerful image of how HE shows us to have compassion, kindness, understanding, etc.
    While, it’s not easy to navigate relationships, I am learning to love, encourage, build, help, and support my family and friends.
    With prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit, we can show empathy.
    Thank you for your sharing, Bev.

  8. So good Jennifer! I especially appreciated that there could be valid reasons and yet we are called to be intentional and to ask for empathy for those hurting around us and for eyes to see them.
    Your last sentence made me laugh and it’s also so true!

  9. Jennifer,

    I,, too, believe we have lost our empathy. Covid did a number on many of us. We feel stressed out with nothing left to give. There are some of us out there that still have some empathy left. My pastor’s wife for example will text me weekly with prayers for my job, health, & our friendship.

    Don’t photoshoot the snot out of pictures. Leave it in & make it real. I want to see your true self. Tell me about your problems. I’ll listen for hours as you talk about your life. No judgement just being there for you. I’ll laugh when you laugh & cry when you cry.

    Blessings 🙂