Thermometers, digital or mercury-filled, bring to mind times of crisis when we or a loved one were in physical danger. When the temperature goes much over 100 degrees Fahrenheit we get alarmed. And rightly so! Taking the temperature of the human body is one of the tools we have in determining how serious a fever may be.

Yet it is just as important to know our emotional "temperature" as it is to know the physical. When someone we love becomes moody, irritable, or despondent, we instinctively know something is wrong. Something inside us senses their emotional temperature and awakens us to the need to show extra love and understanding to help pull them through. They may need comfort, support or old-fashioned encouragement. In more serious cases we may be moved to seek professional help for them.

So next time you see a thermometer, think of the emotional "thermometer" we all seem to carry with us.