Like vinegar on a wound
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Proverbs 25:20

I often fill my days with noise. And I often fill encounters with others with talk. There’s one time when this is often the wrong thing to do: when someone has a heavy heart.

While it is sometimes good to break the ice in a meeting in polite conversation, when you come across a friend or an acquaintance who is in the midst of grief or crisis, sometimes words just make things worse.

“It’s not so bad.”
“I know how you feel.”
“It must be God’s will.”

Those all may strike a sour note to someone who is hurting.

Like vinegar on a wound
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Sometimes all a hurting person needs is for us to be there. I have heard this described as “the ministry of presence.”

Go to people with a heavy heart. Give them a hug. Sit there in silent support. Take them something to eat or drink. Just don’t sing a happy song to them too soon.

Prayer

Dear God, give me the strength to be a comfort to those around me to today who have heavy hearts, and the wisdom to know what to say (or not say). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.