Compassion

Yesterday I talked about being compassionate with my kids. I asked them about what they thought it meant and I got responses like - kindness, helping, showing you care, and showing appreciation. I thought of the story of a man called Nehemiah. He was a servant to the king in a land far away from his people. One day he had visitors who told him that the walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed to ash and rubble and no one could do anything about it. 

Yes they came bearing bad news. News of disaster, pain, agony and hopelessness. Just like we hear all around us today. Nehemiah on hearing this was full of compassion, he could see a deeper reality that they were losing their strength and identity, and close to losing all hope. He knew he had to act.

Compassion is not only showing care and concern but also being willing to help or act when possible. I agree with the kids that it is more of an action world. Our compassion should move us to do something about the situation.

 Mother Teresa was compassionate and she gave her life to serve the poor. We too can do something - we can share a meal with the hungry/ homeless; we can give out blankets to those sleeping on the cold street; we can give to support children suffering the effects of conflicts and wars. Some families have adopted children that would otherwise have had no future, giving them hope. It can be helping the stranded person on the road to push his car to the side; comforting and crying with that person who has suffered loss; helping that old lady cross the road; helping the care home to clear autumn leaves and do the garden. It is asking and identifying what you can and doing it. I challenge you today to think of how you can be compassionate. It is one of the purest expressions of humanity.