Really, it’s a gift?

My entire life I have been teased by my family for being so sensitive and emotional. I cry often, not just when I am sad or upset. Reading birthday cards- funny ones or heartfelt ones- tears flow. Seeing a commercial on TV, especially Hallmark ones, makes me tear up. Watching any final sports championship game, I cry when they show the team that lost. I have always been this way and totally viewed it as a weakness, something I needed to hide. I felt there was something wrong with me since I didn’t see many others having the same reactions. Until, last weekend that is….

I was listening to a talk about spiritual gifts. They shared a website where you could take a survey to help determine your spiritual gifts. For some reason, this hit a chord with me and I clicked on that survey right away. I received a report that highlighted my top 3 gifts. My first gift is mercy-showing. Reading through the description, it says people may call you too emotional- ding- that hit the nail right on the head. I read further and this statement struck me, ” You enter into the grief or happiness of others and have the ability to feel WITH others, not just for others.” WOW- perspective change right there! My emotional responses are a strength that allow me to sit with people in their highs and lows and minister to them.

I guess I should not be hiding this part of me in shame of being overly sensitive, instead, I need to reveal and share my gift of feeling openly. So not a fault but a gift… total change in how I view myself!