Victorious Journey with Coach Bre

Compassion and Kindness: A Beacon of Light

In one of the online devotionals I read during the week, the scripture came from the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).  It’s a familiar passage, but as I read it a few days ago, it really resonated with me in a different way.  

You probably know the story: while a man was traveling, he was assaulted by robbers and left for dead. Two religious leaders passed by without helping him, but a Samaritan man (considered to be an outcast in Jewish society) was the one who had compassion for the injured person.  The Samaritan helped the injured man, brought him to a place of safety and instructed an innkeeper to care for him (and provided money for his care).  He went out of his way to help this man and showed compassion and kindness to him.

It’s not enough to read these stories and agree how good they are. 🙂  They should cause us to evaluate our own lives.  How compassionate am I? How kind am I? Am I more concerned about myself and how I may be inconvenienced when presented with the opportunity to help someone?  When we are compassionate and kind, we are demonstrating God’s love for others. 

Our kindness doesn’t have to be something as extravagant as what the Samaritan did for the injured man. Earlier today, I called into my benefits center to ask a question. When I explained my situation (my question was regarding something I was expecting to receive as a result of my separation from my former company), before the representative answered my question, she expressed her sympathy regarding my separation from the company.  It was kind of her to be concerned about how I was feeling after this life changing event.  And it didn’t take much effort for her to share that with me.  While I am doing well in this new season, she didn’t know that and wanted me to know that she cared!

What can you do today to show kindness and compassion to someone?  I encourage you to be intentional about this; you never know what the person on the other end of your kindness needs in that moment.  Our compassion can be a beacon of hope in a dark moment in time. Our kindness can be just the thing that person needs to change a negative outlook into a positive one!    Be the light of kindness and compassion today!