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Last weekend my husband and I took a trip 70 miles up the road to Fort Hood with seven bus loads from area churches for the purpose of "adopting" a soldier who is about to be deployed. I've always had an emotional tug of patriotism, but how often do I stop during my day and think of the men and women abroad, fighting for or defending freedom? Not nearly often enough. Last Saturday I witnessed young men and women, some with girlfriends, boyfriends, spouses, and children, but most with their fellow military buddies. Some were laughing and joking around, others had a more serious tone to their voices. We met a family standing close together in which the husband/father told us he was going to Afghanistan in two days. When we met the soldier that we were assigned, he told us he was being deployed to Afghanistan with his wife the very next evening. As a result, I've thought more about our military this past week than usual, all because I had the privilege of getting to know some of these soldiers.
We all want to be empathetic of others, and want empathy shown to us, but I'm finding that there is a direct relationship between how empathetic I feel towards another person and how well I know them. Look for opportunities to connect with others whenever you can. On the flip side, let others connect with you. Don't be so guarded that you don't let others get a glimpse of who you are--both your strengths and your weaknesses. Allow others the opportunity to feel empathetic towards you.
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