Empathy
is "the action of understanding,
being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings,
thoughts, and experience of another." Quite simply, empathy is like putting yourself
in another's place or position. Let's
empathize with Job's wife. Though not impossible, this may be easier for women
than men. We all know to some degree
Job's story. Out of the lengthy telling
of his story, Job's wife is mentioned only once (see below). Our experience with her comes through a
question and then an exclamatory statement, and this followed by Job's
exclamatory statement and then a question.
His wife said to him, “Are you still
holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 He replied,
“You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from
God, and not trouble?” Job
2:9-10
Not only did Job the father lose seven
sons and three daughters and their families, so did this mother. Job wasn't the
biggest loser by himself, so was his wife.
Who tended Job's physical needs?
Most likely, Mrs. Job did. On one
day she lived as the wife of one of the most prosperous and successful men in
the known world. In a brief span of
time, not only did Job lose everything, so did Mrs. Job. Job had friends who spent time with him. Did she have friends who spent time with
her? This test of Job's faith was a test
of her faith as well.
When the year of Job's trial was over,
he was doubly blessed. Praise God, so
too was Mrs. Job. Who gave birth to the
seven sons and three daughters? Job
lived twice as long as he had already lived, what about Mrs. Job? As the husband and wife are one, what happens
with one part of the partnership affects the other part. As we pray for, encourage and support one mate, let us not be
unmindful of the other mate. While one
receives care, the other gives the care.
Both have needs. When all is well
for one, all is well for both. When we empathize with another, we may see more clearly and understand much better a situation.
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