THE EMPATHY LENS

Bad blood can affect any relationship.

The quality of our lives is only as good as the quality of our relationships.

Happiness comes from peace with God, myself and others.

You can have peace about the relationship even without peace in the relationship.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 NIV

The pursuit of peace, even without the promise of peace, is not a pointless pursuit.

The step that all of us can take...empathy

4 Qualities of Empathy:
*take on their perspective as truth
*suspend my judgement
*recognize their emotion
*communicate that emotion
Theresa Wiseman

Sympathy is acknowledging what the other person feels.

Empathy is feeling what the other person feels.

In a difficult relationship, empathy can be the key to opening a dialogue that leads to a healthy relationship.

Empathy is the first step of first-aid for bad blood.

Have you done everything you can do to feel it from their side?

Is it possible that their behavior has a logical explanation? To them?

"Human beings are the only creatures who are able to behave irrationally in the name of reason." Ashley Montague

Walk around. Write it down.

Jesus is God's exclamation point of empathy.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 NIV

When you make the long walk of empathy, you are mirroring what Jesus did for you.