Cultivating Compassion

I have not been able to stop thinking about the concept of explaining poverty and instilling compassion in our children since my post last week on the topic.  Sure it may be a little OCD, but once I'm thinking about something I do so pretty obsessively...

Where does it start?  What are things I can be doing, explaining, living?  Here are some more of my thoughts on the subject:

Starts with Us:
As parents, we have the privilege and responsibility to model compassion to our children.  We get to model a biblical worldview in how we relate to those around us and those around the world.  We are called to recognize that all people are created in the image of God.

Our attitudes and the words we use to communicate thoughts about other people can either build up or tear down the development of compassion.  I'm sobered by this.  What does it mean to love others as Christ loves us?  Do I communicate disdain for or superiority over other people?  Do I respond with compassion and a desire to help when people are down and out?  As a parent, they are watching my every move.  I'm thankful for this because it has caused me to do some hard soul searching and crying out to God that He would give me a heart for his people.

I was convicted a couple of months ago after I had made some comments to my sister about Walmart and  how I wasn't 'like' many of the people that often frequent that store.  Later that evening the Holy Spirit brought conviction.  Those people are 'His' people too.  I was convicted that I felt compassion for the poor in other countries, but felt superiority to the 'caucasion' poor in my community.  Compassion should be universal and color-blind. 

My desire is to consistently love and seek to help both those here in my community and around the world.  My kids see the real me (whether I like it or not) and I want the real me to be a reflection of Jesus.

Starts Locally:

(The two bigger boys working on 'sharing' about three years ago!)

For young children, I think it starts locally.  As with just about everything else in the early years, kids relate first to things that are tangible, physical and close in proximity.  The act of sharing a toy with a sibling or friend or sharing cookies with a friend who does not have any is the start of the process of developing compassion and sharing out of your abundance with someone who doesn't have anything.  

In addition to sharing with siblings and friends, it can be as simple as talking with your child when you see a homeless person or helping kids appreciate the uniqueness of people instead of encouraging or allowing them to gawk at the differences.

While at the park recently with two other families, we noticed a homeless man.  Sadly, my thoughts turned primarily to my children's whereabouts and safety, while my friend asked us if we could stop and pray.  She asked God to make Himself real to that man and provide for him.  Wow.  What a witness to me and how blessed her children are to have their mother model compassion like that to them.

Starts Relationally:
In keeping with making it tangible and concrete, having relationship with those they are helping is important too.  We've found that sponsoring a child is a great way to do this.  It has been helpful to know that the money we raise and the letters we write go to help a specific child -their Peruvian friend, Ittiel.  We talk about how we get to help him have access to food, water, education and most importantly a chance to hear about Jesus.  Instead of there being a sea of unfamiliar faces in need, my boys know that there is one that they can specifically encourage and help. 

What a blessing we have to plant the seeds of compassion into our children!