Thought: "…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24b In previous blogs I have covered what I consider to be the most important aspects of compassionate support. They are: 1. Be patient. Everyone experiences pain differently. Each of us will have our own expressions of suffering and our own healing time. 2. Be Accepting. Not everyone shows pain the same way or grieves alike. 3. Express support by using reflective listening. Be slow to offer advice. Instead show sympathy or empathy by actively listening to the one in pain. 4. Offer tangible support by using one of Gary Chapman's five love languages. Be sure you know which language particularly encourages and ministers to the one you are supporting. Now I would like to encourage you not to make a common mistake. In the counseling office, I have listened to many stories of loss and trauma. There is an error people make when they try to comfort the suffering. Usually it comes from that awkwardness I ...
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