Often in a relationship or friendship (especially one that’s long-standing), we’re unaware of the other person’s needs. We stop listening. We become apathetic. We’re oblivious to the pressure they’re under. We don’t mean to be, but we stop putting as much effort into the relationship. The root of many of these problems is insensitivity. Everyone we meet needs kindness. The people who sit around us in church have major hurts, but we’re unaware of them.

We find a great example of sensitivity in the life of King David. David’s friend, Jonathan – Saul’s son – had been killed. Now, safely enthroned for several years, David made a rare request. He asked if anyone was left in Saul’s family that he could help. He discovered Saul’s grandson – Jonathan’s son – Mephibosheth, who was injured in both feet. When David sent for him, Mephibosheth almost certainly thought, ‘I’m going to be killed because I am a member of the enemy’s family, the old dynasty.’ But notice David’s words: ‘Don’t be afraid…for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table’ (2 Samuel 9:7 NIV).

Mephibosheth’s reaction is interesting: ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’ (v.8 NIV). He felt like a dog and expected to be treated like one. But the point to notice is this: David took time, made the effort, and was sensitive to his needs. Let’s do the same, and put the effort in to be kind and sensitive towards our friends and family.

What Now?

Try to spend a bit of time today with a friend or family member that you’ve overlooked recently. What could you do together to restore anything in the relationship that’s been lost or neglected?