Faith Comes By Hearing (Blog #7)

                      (This week's text is from a guest contributor.)

Developing Empathy

Aimee McNally, San Jose

Empathy is one of those emotions that lead Jesus to have compassion upon others.  Jesus wanted to show others peace, comfort, mercy, and encouragement through His words and actions.  He was given many opportunities to practice and show others how to relate to other people's suffering. 

A couple of years ago my teens took a spiritual gift assessment, which listed empathy as their top gift.  Empathy is not my gift and since my girls are with me most of the day, I was curious where they acquired this gift.   Most people are born with some ability to empathize, unless the person is psychotic.    However, if empathy is not practiced one can lose it.  Evidence shows that Americans are less empathetic due to hyper-individualism and the online culture where information about terrorism, religious conflict, and civil wars are shared at a rapid rate.  Americans are becoming desensitized by not connecting to the welfare, interests and needs of others (ref. Konrath, Sara H (2010, Aug) Changes in Dispositional Empathy in American College Students Over Time).

How did my girls develop empathy?

1.      My girls read a lot of living books and watch movies that touched on the subject of empathy.  Here is a couple of links to movie and book lists that will help strengthen a child's empathy from age 4 to high school (Note: parents please preview the books and movies for appropriateness first). https://www.commonsensemedia. org/lists/books-that-teach- empathy;      http://www.teachthought.com/ pedagogy/50-of-the-best-books- to-teach-children-empathy

2.      We like to get in the car and drive around town for an hour.  We look out for ways to randomly bless others, and then, take action.  If we see people in need of food, we'll bring them food.  If it's appropriate, we'll have a short conversation with the person.

3.      We look for organizations that will let children serve and connect with the less fortunate.  We have visited an elderly home and spent time getting to know them.  We have served the homeless dinner and dessert at a local church outreach activity.

These are just a few activities that have helped us empathize with other people.  Empathy involves several overlapping emotions and skills from love, nurturing, and caring to relating, understanding and communication.   God says that in the last days people will be unloving, hateful, puffed up, and love pleasure rather than God (2 Timothy 3:1-5).   As a parent who wants to develop empathy in my children, the best example I have to look up to is Jesus' example.  He was compassionate, kind, loving, caring, and understanding - a very empathetic man.