The Gift of Compassion
Wednesday, November 2
The Gift of Compassion
“I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. John 13:34
If anyone has ever had the right to be unhappy, it was Hellen Keller. She was blind and deaf, and her disabilities made her completely unable to experience the world in the way most of us do. Despite this Helen Keller turned out to be an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. How is this possible? Everyone around her had abilities that she lacked. But Helen had something that took her to higher heights, she had determination, and something even more valuable–compassion.
In adulthood, Helen spent much of her time visiting hospitals, encouraging soldiers who had been blinded or deafened by war. Her disabilities gave her the chance to help these people facing incredible struggles. “Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world,” she said. “So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.”
Helen could have chosen to be bitter, angry, or focused on her own struggles. But instead, she chose to use her circumstances to show compassion to those around her.
Letting go of our own “right” to wallow in our pain and choosing to have compassion for others is hard. But when we are suffering, we have a heightened ability to empathize with others.
Instead of comparing problems or judging who has it worse, we can choose to be a blessing.
Prayer for today: Dear God, help me to not focus on what is wrong, but focus on You who makes everything right. I know that when I go through storms in my life, I have an increased ability to be compassionate to others. Thank You for the gift of compassion. Help me tap into that and use it to bless those around me. Amen.