In the words of an old Chinese saying ‘You cannot understand until you walk a mile in someone’s shoes.’ Mothers will have a special understanding of each other that non-mothers do not have. Prisoners and ex-prisoners will have a bond with those who have been through the same traumas. Does this mean we can never be close to others unless we have had the same experiences?
I think the answer is ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ I cannot imagine what it is like to be a teenager in the 21st century. I have no idea what it is like to be a spouse. What I can sympathize with are bouts of ill-health and periods of loneliness. Does this mean I can’t have empathy with other members of the community. What i can do is listen and then listen some more. Even if I had had the same experiences as my burdened friends, they don’t want to hear about my story, they just want to talk about theirs. We may not be able to walk in another’s shoes but with the help of the Holy Spirit, I believe we can walk alongside them.