Compassion Shows the Love of God


He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. -Psalm 111:4


Recently, my family and I encountered a mountain that was terribly hard to climb in our own strength. We needed God to carry us through. And, He did just that, He carried us in a number of ways. Some ways were precious miracles directly from His own hands. Other ways were by using people; people who were willing to put aside whatever they may have had going on to extend to us the love of God: meals, baby-sitting, prayers, snacks, waiting, flying in to help, adjusting schedules, texting Scriptures, wiping tears, more prayer. Honestly, the list goes on and on, and those are the things I know about. I imagine there were many other God-orchestrated events where He used people to show our family His love.


Humbling. Overwhelming. Grateful. Compassion.


We were blessed through this trial to experience the gift of compassion over and over again. Compassion moves you to act, it drives you to do something to lessen the burden of another, to help ease their pain. Compassion causes you to flood the throne of Grace in fervent prayer, it challenges you to be the hands and feet of Jesus right here on Earth, doing and going in order to meet the need of another.


Part of what I’m learning from this trial is that people may be hurting and if we aren’t mindful and intentional about caring for others, it can be easy to miss. You never can tell from the outside what battles may be raging on the inside. Keeping this in mind, my family has been challenged by the love we’ve received to be more diligent in extending that same love to others.


How can we be compassionate followers of Christ, compassionate families for Christ? We don’t have to go very far; there are people everywhere that are hurting, that are lonely or need a helping hand. Whether God has given your family a large platform to display His love or a small-scaled assignment, whether it is someone you know or a flat-out stranger, do it. Be obedient to the call, for in this way, lives are changed. It is the love of God.


And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude;
and He was moved with compassion for them,
and healed their sick.
-Matthew 14:14


What does compassion look like in your life? How has God met your needs through another person? What ideas do you have to practice compassion as a family? To display the love of God to another?

Also posted at Our Homeschool Forum.

Comments

  1. Yes! The Church(Christians) are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. When I was hospitalized, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ loved on my family tremendously, without judgment. I recall when I was on bedrest with baby #4, my Sisters had a rotating schedule on when they would come and help bathe, feed, play, and read to my children so that my husband could reserve his PTO for when the baby arrived. They also ran my errands! That same compassion was extended during my last 2 c-sections. Those times show true compassion, and service to the Lord. It's great to read how your family was held up by many, in a variety of ways. Praise God for His provisions.

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    1. Tika,

      What a sweet recollection of true love and service, one for the other. You are blessed to have church family like that!!

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  2. Stacie, I really like the new design. :)

    Compassion is one of those traits that I really want my daughters to have because I remember what life can be like when no one around has that trait. It wasn't until adulthood did I begin to witness compassion from others, regularly. I didn't want my daughters to think that children or older people are not worthy of compassion so we have served for extended periods of time at shelters and food banks. In our day to day, they've witnessed me stopping to pray for people in the middle of a restaurant or parking lot. They've seen me jump out the car to help a older man get his wife off the ground after she felt. I believe our everyday lives should reflect compassion even in the most simplest forms such as holding the door for the mom with the stroller and the toddler.

    Since we've moved, the Father has shown us His love through others by checks being delivered to our mailbox by people we least expected. Last fall, my car broke down and the church repaired it without us asking. They simply wanted to do it.

    I've come to understand that it is better to live with our hands open to give and receive. I struggled with people doing things for us because it made me feel like I should be doing more, but I've been reminded that He as it all taken care of. Each day I am becoming less and less prideful and less like the world.

    I'm still praying for you all too. :)

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    1. Thanks, lady! :)

      Oh, Latonya, this comment is so beautiful. I love how intentional you are with your daughters in showing compassion regularly. Honestly, I feel the exact same way...struggling when people do things for us because I would start wondering if I needed to do more...pride, right? *sigh* Thank God He continues to mold us and shape us.

      Thank you for your continued prayers; thank you so much.

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