As the
NFL playoff game ended and the Green Bay Packers celebrated their victory over
the Chicago Bears, my friend Lisa noticed that her little girl, 4-year-old
Eliana, was crying. That seemed odd, since neither of Eliana’s parents
particularly cared who won the game.
When Lisa
asked Eliana why she was crying, she said, “I feel sorry for the Bears. They
look so sad.”
Can we
learn something from a preschooler about compassion? In a world where winning
is so important and losers get rejected, forgotten, and maligned, we need this
reminder: People need compassion. When we see others struggling with a loss are
we willing to shed tears with them, put our arms around them, and offer to
help?
A number
of Scripture passages challenge us to treat others with compassion. Philippians
2:1-3 tells us to think of others above ourselves, looking out for their
interests—not just ours. First Peter 3:8-12 reminds us that compassion means
treating others “as brothers,” and Colossians 3:12-15 says that mercy,
kindness, and humility are marks of those God has redeemed.
Look around you. See anyone going through a difficult loss? Go beyond feeling bad for them. Reach out with compassion and God’s love.
One measure of our likeness to God is our sensitivity to the suffering of others. (RBC)
