One can hardly turn on the television without seeing or hearing an endless stream of negativity. There is so much hurt, anger and hatred being shown that my heart aches. It has caused me to wonder, “Where is compassion?” Thankfully every now and again there emerges a story of help and hope and love.
As I have thought about what compassion means, I naturally turn to the example of the Savior. I love the account in the Book of Mormon when He appears to the Nephites after His resurrection. The encounter He has with them shows His boundless compassion. He healed all “that were afflicted in any manner.”1 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/17?lang=eng
Imagine how much different our lives would be if we could treat each other with such compassion. That reminds me of the words from a hymn we sing, “Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed. Has anyone’s burden been lighter today because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there?” 2
As we help, cheer, and ease burdens, we are showing Christlike compassion. While the word compassion literally means to suffer with, I find it interesting that it starts with the word compass. A compass is used to point us in the right direction. Significantly, when we are pointed to our Savior, compassion will naturally follow.
Russell M. Nelson put it simply when he said, “Each of us can help to make life in this world a more pleasant experience.”3 Every day we show compassion it makes life better for someone else. A beautiful thing that happens when we do, our life is better too!
References:
1. 3 Nephi 17:9
2. Have I Done Any Good? – Hymn 223
3. Teach Us Tolerance and Love – Russell M. Nelson