Hi and welcome to Our Daily Bread.

Our reading is titled Comfort Shared, and it was written by Gobi Lee.

When my daughter Haley came to visit me, I saw her three-year-old son, Callum, wearing a strange piece of clothing.

Called a scratch-me-not. It's a long-sleeved top with mittens attached to the sleeves.

My grandson, Callum, suffers from chronic eczema, a skin disease that makes his skin itch, making it rough and sore.

The scratch-me-not prevents Callum from scratching and injuring his skin, Haley explained.

Seven months later, Haley's skin flared up, and she couldn't stop scratching.

I now understand what Callum endures, Haley confessed to me.

Maybe I should wear a scratch-me-not.

Haley's situation reminded me of 2 Corinthians, Chapter 1, verses 3 through 5,

in which Paul says that our God is the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,

so also our comfort abounds through Christ. Sometimes God allows us to go through trying times,

such as an illness, loss, or crisis. He teaches us through our suffering to appreciate the greatest suffering

that Christ went through on our behalf on the cross.

In turn, when we rely on Him for comfort and strength,

we're able to comfort and encourage others in their suffering.

Let's reflect on whom we can extend comfort

because of what God has brought us through.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from 2 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 3 through 8.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Compassion and the God of all comfort,

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