Most of you know that I have a tender heart—sometimes it is my downfall.   I have done probably a zillion spiritual gifts inventories and it always comes back with the result that compassion and empathy are my biggest gifts. I have been blessed with it, sometimes cursed by it when my empathy can not “fix” things but it is always there.   Last night we were watching some episodes of “Undercover Boss” that we had dvr’ed and yep–you guessed it—I was in tears over some of the stories.  I mean really—who cries at “Undercover Boss”????   I blame it on hormones and the upcoming 50th birthday.  

But what has gotten me really going this morning is the mining accident in West Virginia.   My heart is breaking for these people.  In one quick moment lives are lost and other lives are changed forever.   I think when something like this happens when it is so sudden and unexpected it can not be understood….those men had families.  One was 5 weeks out from retirement with a cruise with family planned at the end of May.  What do they do now??   

I keep thinking that I wish I could do something.   I know I can pray.  I will always do that.  But somehow when things like this happen I just want to do more though I don’t know these people at all—it just seems like my heart is leading me to DO something tangible.  Make a casserole.   Stay at someone’s house while they make arrangements.   I don’t know.  It makes me feel sad that I can can’t do more.   I am not downplaying the prayer thing—-that is the best any of us can do for someone and I always count it a privilege when someone asks me to pray for them but the heart wants to do more.   Maybe by blogging about this and asking others to pray that will help ease my heart.  I hope so.  Because my heart is really hurting today.