This week the word compassion has been on my mind a lot. My own struggles in life have taught me to be compassionate towards others and I believe it is an excellent characteristic to foster in our children. Dictionary.com defines the word compassion as “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” Synonyms for compassion include mercy and tenderness.
I am thankful that our Lord teaches us compassion, even if it sometimes takes suffering ourselves to learn this lesson. The suffering of Jesus on the cross was a result of His immeasurable compassion and mercy for mankind. He greatly desired to alleviate the suffering of us who were dead in our sins, to redeem us from our lost state. For those who call on His name He was successful in His efforts.
This week I decided to write my Thankful Thursday poem on this wonderful feeling of compassion. I pray that we all will feel compassion for our family, friends, and neighbors, and that we would be enabled to alleviate their suffering.
Compassion Is
a warm hug
on a cold day
a tentative smile
in the face of pain
a heartfelt prayer
lifted high with praise
a hot bowl of soup
for an empty belly
a cozy blanket
when there’s nowhere to sleep
a kind word
where none has been heard
an invitation
to come in from weather
a song of lament
that shares in a loss
a sincere question
of what help can be offered
a promise of hope
from a Savior who loves
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35-36 (NIV).