Rejoice with them that do rejoice; weep with them that weep. - Romans 12:15 

The hospice instructor wrote the words, “Fix it” on the board and proceeded to declare, “You can’t do it.”

You can’t fix it. So then, what can you do?

You can be there and experience with some hurting soul, the ministry of presence, understanding, and silence. You can weep with those who weep. That is part of what the church does. When the church functions with its ministry of tears, the world takes notice.

Likewise, you can also rejoice with those who rejoice – and this is sometimes more difficult because it requires a relinquishment of pride, jealousy, and envy. Rather than being the star on the field, one becomes the cheering section. The covetous soul cannot rejoice in the success of one with whom he is competing, but the Christian can consider blessings that come to a brother or sister great cause for joy.

It requires that we “Be of one mind one toward another.” (Romans 12:16a)

There are areas where we must agree as believers in Jesus Christ. One of them is an agreement for God’s best in one another’s lives – so much so that we agree about the pain when one is suffering and about the joy when one is rejoicing.

It further requires that we “Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” (Romans 12:16b)

We are never so far above a brother or sister in Christ that we cannot sit with them a while and meet them where they are, in joy or in sorrow. That is our witness in the world. That is our great honor. That is family.