As sad as I was for her and what she had just been through, the reality that her 30 year old, single mom was killed in that same accident was burdening my heart. I have to admit it is still hard for me to believe.

At one point, while she slept, I had the opportunity to hold that little girl’s hand, stroke her beautiful blond hair, and pray for her. I prayed that she would be fully healed and restored, but I also prayed that God would care for her now that her mommy was gone.

She’s not alone. She still has her little baby brother, who was also involved in the accident, and is in very good shape. She still has her dad and her grandparents. But it just isn’t the same. There is no way around it. And, nothing is going to change that.

THE REAL WORLD

Here is the thing that has really hit me as the last 24 hours have unfolded, and as I watched countless people stream in and out of the hospital today. Most people, and I mean most, have something going on in their life that is really, really hard – emotionally and otherwise.

This isn’t a new thought for me. It has been coming more clearly into view over the last four or five years. But it was confirmed again last night at a prayer meeting at our church for the family that has experienced this tragedy. There are two local police officers that attend our church, plus another man who is a volunteer ambulance driver. All three of them said, in one way or another, “This happens every day.”

WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE?

Here’s what is important for you to understand. Most, if not all, of the people that work for and with you are bearing a heavy load. Whether it is a car accident, an unexpected infection or heart attack, loss of a job, a divorce or some other crisis. Something extremely difficult is facing them directly or affecting someone they care about deeply.

I don’t say that to give them excuses for poor performance, bad attitudes, or anything like that. But, you, as their leader, need to know they are hurting. Most of them don’t talk about it, but they are. It may not be something going on at home, but I can almost guarantee you it is “close to home.”

Let me encourage you to be someone who knows how to show care and compassion for your employees. Read my earlier blog post on this topic for more insights.

Question: How can you grow in this area of compassion?

Seize the day!