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“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ…And of some have compassion, making a difference:”  ~Jude 21-22

One of my goals in seeking to rear Godly children is that they would make a difference, be it in the lives of a few or many. With Jesus as our example, we find that one of the greatest characteristics of His earthly ministry was His compassion. Mark 6:34 says, “And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them…” Christ looked for those who had needs and met them.

The following are three ideas I want to use to help my children – and myself – become more compassionate to those around us.

1. Notice people in need.  If we are wrapped up in ourselves, we miss opportunities to help others. It is often easiest to spot physical needs, but we should also be attuned to spiritual or emotional needs that we can have a hand in meeting.
2. Be humble.  Assisting others should not be done from a position of pride. God created each one of us and, while a person may make choices that put him in difficult circumstances, God still loves him and wants to have a relationship with him. As the saying goes, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”
3. Empathize. Try to understand others’ feelings. We have recently been in situations where my daughters were the “new kids.” After these experiences, I have talked to them about how they felt and asked them to remember that bit of awkwardness for times when they have the opportunity to reach out and welcome a stranger. While our children won’t have personal experience with every difficulty they see a person facing, they can still learn to identify with people who are hurting.

With God’s help, may we develop compassion within ourselves and our children that we might make a difference in our world.

How do you help your children learn to be compassionate?

By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. ~Hebrews 13:5

May our thankfulness this day be directed to the One Who meets all our needs and provides so many of our wants. 

For health, family, friends, church, country, and blog readers, I am thankful.  Yet most of all, for the loving God and returning Saviour Who has provided salvation for all who believe.

Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving as you weave another layer of memories into the fabric of your children’s lives.

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One of the most difficult habits to establish as a Christian can be that of spending time daily in God’s Word.  Perhaps because it’s vital to our walk with Christ, our flesh finds it easy to fill our hours with other tasks.

Reading in Acts 4 last week, I came across a verse that has convicted me before in this area. As the religious leaders question Peter and John, they are amazed by the boldness with which they speak.  Verse 13 says, “…and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

While I can’t physically spend the day with Jesus, I am privileged as His child to be able to enter His presence through prayer and Bible reading.   However, I have to ask myself if I am taking advantage of this opportunity and is it making a difference in how I relate to others.

As I greet the day with my family, sending my husband off to work and getting our daughters started with homeschooling, can they tell that I’ve been with Jesus?  When I encounter a grouchy clerk at the grocery store or talk to the librarian as we check out books, can they sense that I’ve spent time with Jesus?

I desire for the time I use praying and reading my Bible to effect the rest of my day, that it not just be a ritual I perform.  By God’s grace, may others I encounter today be able to say that I have been with Jesus.

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As a child, I was annoyed when someone’s feet touched my body.  If my brothers or sister were on the couch with me, they knew they could get a reaction if they maneuvered their foot to rest against me.  In fact, I’m not sure I’ve outgrown that aversion!

In John 13, we read about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.  As He explains to them the significance of what He has done, He says in verse 14, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

The lesson here is that we are to serve others.  We should see no task as too menial or lowly to do in service for Christ. 

I doubt that I will be called upon to literally wash someone’s feet today.  But I may be required to clean up after my children, pack my husband’s lunch, wash dishes after a church fellowship, or deliver a meal to a new mother.  If Jesus can humbly and willingly bathe the dusty, dirty feet of a roomful of grown men, how can I not do whatever I am called on to do in service to others?

May I not only sweetly accomplish my duties, but let me seek out opportunities to demonstrate the heart of a servant.  Each day, let us ask ourselves, “Whose feet can I wash today?”

Have you ever wanted to write a book? 

All of us are authors, knowingly or not.  We read in Psalm 90:9, “….we spend our years as a tale that is told.”

What story are we writing on the pages of our lives?

Which chapters in your book are the longest?  Is it one that covers showing love to others or one dealing with pride and selfishness?  I fear that the sentences in some areas of my book are few when the paragraphs should number many.

We are each living a different part of our narrative.  Some are newlyweds, learning to love and grow together.  Others, like myself, are finding new facets to parenthood nearly every day. Some of the older ones among us have books that are full, revealing moments that have enriched others while doing much for their Savior.

By God’s grace, may we all pen a script that brings glory to Him and blesses our fellow man.

What will you add to your story today?