Compassion: The Missing Ingredient in Our World
“The greatness of a man is measured by the way he treats the little man. Compassion for the weak is a sign of greatness.” -Myles Munroe
Compassion is feeling that motivates people to go out of their way to relieve the physical, mental, or emotional pains of others and themselves. To have compassion means to empathise with someone who is suffering and feel compelled to reduce their suffering.
Compassion is sensitivity to the emotional aspects of the suffering of others. When based on notions such as fairness, justice, and interdependence. Acts of compassion include showing helping hands, words of encouragement, attention to others’ needs, and practicing kindness. An article in Clinical Psychology Review suggests that “compassion consists of three facets: noticing, feeling, and responding.
To show compassion, you first have to notice other people’s pain, then feel their pain, which means putting yourself in their shoes, and lastly, respond to their affliction, which means helping them out.
Compassion is the heartfelt response of empathy and care for the suffering and needs of others. The Bible consistently emphasises the importance of compassion and portrays it as an essential virtue for believers to embody in their interactions with one another and the world around them.
There are good examples of compassion written in the Bible.
the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:34) who helped a man who was robbed and beaten to the point of death. The good Samaritan went to him, bandaged his wound, put him on his donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him.
At that moment, the good Samaritan acted with compassion. He took it upon himself to not only see the man’s distress but also stop it. We are called to do the same for our neighbours, colleagues, friends, and strangers in need of help.
READ: The Fear of the Lord: A Foundation for Life
Jesus also showed compassion (Matthew 20:30–35) to two blind men sitting by the roadside. They called out to Jesus to help them, and out of compassion, He touched them, and they regained their sight. These stories are great that we can learn from and act on. It shows that we should put ourselves in others’s shoes and also consider others first before making decisions.
When someone is going through a difficult time, compassion leads us to connect with them, show some level of concern, and offer help.
How can we show compassion to another?
We can show compassion to others by offering support, care, and encouragement without judgement. Likewise, we can show compassion by recognising how our words and actions can positively and negatively affect those around us.
We can show compassion by demonstrating empathy and sensitivity towards our friends, colleagues, and family to encourage better relationships. We can show compassion by engaging in acts of service that meet the practical needs of others.
lastly, we can show compassion by forgiving all wrongs of people just the same way God does to us. ”Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.“ Henry Ward Beecher
In essence, we should show compassion not to show off but for genuine concern and human feeling. In strangers, friends, classmates, and family, we should show respect, concern, a lending hand, and positive words of encouragement; last, but not least, pray for a compassionate heart and engage in projects that will be for the benefit of others.
Content Credit| Igbakuma Rita Doom
Picture Credit | https://www.pinterest.com/pin/817825613610484381/
