#compassion | itsawonderfilledlife

Posts Tagged ‘#compassion’

Gentle Empathy

Posted in life, WONDER, tagged #compassion, #dountoothers, #empathy, #gentleempathy on December 5, 2019| 11 Comments »

I stood there, unable to move my eyes from what was happening in front of me.

She wet the facecloth with warm water, then, ever so gently dabbed his forehead, his cheeks, chin, nose, mouth and eyes. With the tenderest of care of care, her hands guided the dampened cloth, slowly, gingerly over his face. It was as if I was watching the work of a master … no,

it was as if I was watching her wipe the face of her own father.

The expert, compassionate act I viewed stopped me where I was standing, for I had entered a time and place of holiness, beauty and honor.

In my seventy-six hours of final vigil with my dad, this was one of the most tender moments … and it was performed by a stranger, a nurse, paid to do a task, but who took it beyond job description, she performed an act of tenderness as I have never witnessed before. And I will forever be changed because of it.

The tenderness and compassion with which she worked … the respect and dignity that she blessed my comatose father with also blessed me. I was treated to an act of a master at her job, one who did more than was expected of her.

I was reminded of the story of the death of Lazarus as I watched this beautiful kindness.

Lazarus had died, already in the tomb for four days. Jesus said he was going to “wake him” from his death sleep.

When Jesus (and the disciples) got there, he saw Mary and Martha weeping, filled with sorrow over the loss of their brother.

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”” (John 11:33-36)

This is a similar picture of tenderness and compassion. Jesus knew that he would raise the dead Lazarus from the grave. But, his tears were not over Lazarus’ death, they were tears of compassion for the sorrow and heartache that Mary and Martha were experiencing. He wept with empathy, responding with love and gentleness.

Read Full Post »

My Pastor’s Kids

Posted in WONDER, tagged #1corinthians12:27, #compassion, #lifeofapastorskids, #mypastorskids, #pks, #thebodyofchrist, Understanding on May 13, 2015| 6 Comments »

Sometimes, being the mom of PKs (Pastor’s Kids) can be comical, such as when our kids nonchalantly speak of having ‘funeral food’ for dinner when their school friends are over. Sometimes it can be heartwarming, such as when individuals (usually retired pastors) tell us that they pray for our kids. Sometimes it can be disheartening, such as when they get told that, as a pastor’s kid, they should or should not do a certain thing.

Sometimes I fear, in the depth of my soul, that their view of God will be jaded by their negative experiences in such a way that they will never feel that they can be good enough for His love, acceptance and forgiveness.

The other day I was reminded that they get it, and by ‘it’ I mean, what really matters.

This past weekend has been heartbreaking for our church, and community. Pastor-hubby-dad has been pre-occupied with death, grieving and really just being shepherd to a heartbroken flock, a heartbroken community. He was a bit of a shell, with little left to bring home.

The kids did not seem to mind, but just took him as he was.

Throughout Monday, as each child came home, they each asked their dad how he was, if his day went okay, if he was tired.

With each ‘child’s’ words of concern and compassion, I realized that they got ‘it’. They showed that they understood the weight that was resting on their dad’s shoulders, and they realized that what he does matters in the lives of others. They also showed respectful understanding of his job, his role, his responsibilities. They showed their dad love and compassion.

It that was not enough to bless my mamma/wife-heart, hubby-dad then shared the most beautiful part of his day, as we sat down to dinner.

As his work day was just beginning, his phone rang. On the other end was a woman in her eighties, calling from another province, thousands of miles away. She said something along the lines of,

“you don’t know me, pastor, but I searched for you, after hearing your name, and the tragic events that have touched your church. I want to let you know that I know these days will be difficult ones for you, and I will be praying for you.”

Looking around the table, I saw that they ‘got it’ again … that the hands and feet of God are His people, His church, near and far.

“Now you are the body of Christ,
and each one of you is a part of it.”

1 Corinthians 12:27

Read Full Post »