The Minister Who Grieves for the Prince
A wise minister's sorrow over the king's exiled son awakens the king's mercy for all his children, as the righteous awaken Hashem's mercy for Israel.
The Maggid told of a prince banished by his father the king, while a wise minister of the court felt deep sorrow over it. Because of that minister's pain, the king's mercy was awakened toward all his children. So too, the Maggid taught, the righteous awaken Hashem's mercy for all of Israel. He read this into the verse about a little town, which he connected with the words "I would waken the dawn," and added that each day a heavenly voice calls "return, wayward children," a call that reaches every single person as a spur to wake up. A heart that aches for others can move Heaven, and each of us can learn to carry that ache for someone.
Source: Maggid Devarav LeYaakov, §5
Think of one person who is going through a hard stretch, whether it is illness, loneliness or worry about parnassah. Today, let yourself feel their situation for a full minute rather than moving past it. Then turn that feeling into a short tefillah in their name, and one small action, a phone call, a meal or a note. The Maggid teaches that real sorrow for another person is not wasted. It is the beginning of mercy.