My beautiful Tewahedo Orthodox sister, when someone is drowning, that’s not the time to teach them how to swim. It’s not the time to instruct or correct. It’s the time to show mercy in the middle of the storm. What they need from you is not a lesson, but a lifeline. They need you to reach out your hand, help them to shore, and remind them that they are not alone.
As the Bible tells us:
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
I’ll never forget a moment from my own life that reminds me of this truth. When I was younger, my dad took us to Indiana Beach. I wandered too far into the deep end and suddenly couldn’t feel the ground beneath my feet. I lost my balance and began to drown. Panic filled my chest and I couldn’t find my way back up. Then, out of nowhere, a lady reached out, grabbed my hand, and pulled me above the water. She didn’t ask what happened or why I had gone too far; she simply rescued me.
That moment stays with me to this day. Because sometimes, people around us are just like that. Struggling beneath the surface, unable to find their footing. What they need most isn’t correction but compassion. Even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not begin by lecturing the broken; He first touched, healed, and comforted them. Then, once they could stand again, He gently taught them the way of life.
So, my beautiful sister, when someone is caught in deep waters, remember: it’s not your words that will save them, but your love. There will be time to teach and guide later, but in the middle of the storm, what they need most is mercy, not correction. Because when a soul is fighting just to stay afloat, your kindness might be the very hand God uses to pull them out of the water.
Be that hand. Be the one who lifts, not the one who points. Be the one who prays, not the one who judges. The world is full of wounded hearts searching for grace. Let yours be a reflection of Christ’s love.
Selam Seyoum
Tewahedo Orthodox Girl 