Com·pas·sion

com·pas·sion n. : Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

The man who removes a mountain, begins by carrying away small stones.- William Faulkner


In our regular day to day lives, I sometimes get worried about how our kids are going to turn out. You know, when I see the kids wrestling with each other, which isn't necessarily bad, until I notice that look in their eyes and I know that in that moment something switched from having fun to a full blown "no holds barred" kind of wrestling match. A frequent comment coming out of my mouth is, "You better un-cock that arm, boy" catching him in the nick of time just before there was going to be a major right hook. So in times like that, I wonder if my kids will have an ounce of compassion at all in them when they grow up. And don't get me started about commercials, "Mom, can we get that toy? How about that one?"... over and over again, always with the same answer, "NO!"

Then, over the last couple weeks, my hope has been restored. Our ladies Bible study is raising money to build a well in Africa, actually two wells, which totals $10,600. I brought home a DVD that I could show Billy and the boys. Riley, 7 , was so touched by this that he was in tears. After watching the short video, he told me that he wanted to donate the rest of his money that he got from his birthday (which was a pretty penny, if you know what I mean). He kept telling me, "Mom, we have so much stuff, everything we would ever need here. I can't believe those kids drink that water, get sick, and die." To get a picture in your mind of what the water looks like, think chocolate milk, I wouldn't even want to swim in this water, let alone drink it, then to top it all off, the women have to walk three hours altogether to get this water in a five gallon bucket (45 lbs.) to last the whole day... for the entire family. Riley was so moved, which made me so proud and I realized that PHEW, we must be doin' somethin' right! He is compassionate after all!

Zane, 5, did something at school for a friend that proved to me that it's catching on with him, too. He came home the other day from school and told me about a friend that couldn't afford a lunch box, and here we are almost two months into school. He asked, "Mom, could I bring him our extra Batman lunchbox? He really likes Batman." So we cleaned it all up and he gave it to him at school today. It's so awesome to see the boys growing into young men that have hearts full (well, full at times so far) of compassion. It makes me think of what Jesus says about loving God and loving others. I hope I'm being a faithful daughter of Christ and setting a good example in my own life, as a mother.

I got this daily scripture newsletter thingy the other day and thought that it was appropriate:

"If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew 10:42
Our deeds on earth merit a heavenly reward when they are motivated by love for Christ. Loving the needy around us pleases God, and we learn how much his heart loves those who are hurting.
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