Sympathy vs. Empathy

What is the difference between empathy and sympathy?

Both empathy and sympathy are feelings concerning other people. Sympathy is literally 'feeling with' - compassion for or commiseration with another person. Empathy, by contrast, is literally 'feeling into' - the ability to project one's personality into another person and more fully understand that person. You feel empathy when you've "been there", and sympathy when you haven't.  http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/d23.html

Sympathy is defined as “the feeling that you care about and are sorry about someone else's trouble, grief, misfortune, etc.; sorrow or pity for another <She felt sympathy for the poor lost puppy.> http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sympathy

Empathy is “the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions.” Empathy denotes a deep emotional understanding of another's feelings or problems, while Sympathy is more general and can apply to small annoyances or setbacks. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/empathy

I have always considered myself a “sympathetic” person. Now I realize that my life lacked “empathy.”

My realization between the two was dealing with death.

Before I experienced it, I would feel sympathy and tell others, “I am so sorry for your loss.” This was expressed from imagining what I might feel like having to deal with this…but never have.

After experiencing it, I now feel empathy and express sincere sorry…having gone through the experience and truly understanding what it feels like.

With my current health challenges and new limited mobility, I am forced to spend a lot of time alone…often in silence. I now understand the feelings of loneliness and insignificance people often feel. 

This inspires me to send cards, notes or make phone calls to others…especially those in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or those who are home-bound. They need to know that their existence is recognized and it does matter by at least SOMEBODY on this planet. Although we each matter to God, He may be using you to express this to others. They key is to allow Him to use you to do this.

Thus, there is a need for both.

The Bible Says:

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV):  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Romans 12:15 (NKJV):  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Matthew 7:12 (NKJV):  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV):  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:26 (NKJV):  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Mark 12:31(NKJV):  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Memorable Quotes

"Empathy is... seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another."

"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are." ~ Benjamin Franklin

“Sitting silently beside a friend who is hurting may be the best gift you can give.” – unknown

 “The greatest cruelty is our casual blindness to the despair of others.”

“It’s hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember.”

The most profound explanation of sympathy and empathy is:

THE ESSENCE OF COMPASSION

"Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and wrong…because sometime in your life you will have been all of these."