For some time now, I have been visiting the orphanage home. I take my daughter along. While I teach the teens, she spends time playing with the younger children. Do you remember, Mrs. Carol and the orphanage home? You can read the article ‘When God Gives You A Voice‘
One of the days, while we drove home, my daughter asked me ‘mom why don’t my friends go home?’
You see that’s their home for now.
But I don’t see their parents, Where are their parents?
I had to think for a while to find an age-appropriate response. I tried explaining how many of her friends have no parents or were abandoned there at the home.
Trust me, it was a hard thing to do.
She was quiet for a while and next she asked, ‘is that why you go to teach them?’
Yes, partly. I have other reasons too.
Ok mom, ‘what can I do for them?’
‘You could start by praying for them just as you would for yourself’ I replied. Then you could visit them and play with them too. They are always happy to see you. And whenever you get the chance, give them gifts.
Sometimes we think just telling our kids about compassion would be enough.
But my daughter’s set of questions proved that kids try to reason out why we as parents or adults do the things we do.
Here is the thing, in this case, I got the chance to hear her heart on the matter, what about others?
It made me ponder what meanings she had read to other situations.
Back to the table with ‘compassion’.
It is way easy talking about compassion than demonstrating that heart for people.
Related Articles: One Reason To Show Kindness
Fast forward to two months after the incident, her best friends now have ‘homes’ to go to.
When I learnt they will be going abroad, I couldn’t help but cry. One of the sisters had such a sweet voice. The duo had been wonderful but now they go to a better place by God’s grace.
The rest of the kids would ask Carol, when they would have parents and when they get to go home.
Our visits to our friends has opened my daughter’s heart to more love,
more praying,
more thankfulness
and more compassion.
All four qualities are priceless. Her tender heart is grasping the fact that there is more to life than mere living itself.
If you are thinking, how you could instill compassion in the heart of your children, its ok. I’m still working at it too.Some Scriptures that stir our hearts to compassion are;
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Colossians 3:12
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Matthew 25:35-36
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
James 2:15-16
How To Raise Compassionate Children
Serve. Perhaps you don’t have an orphanage home near you like we do, but there are many ways you and your kids can serve in your community.
There is always going to be a need around you. Prayerfully, consider ways to help out.
Children learn a lot when they watch us offer a hand to those who are likely never going to pay us back.
Your attitude matters. It is one thing to serve others but entirely different thing to do it with love. Sadly, some would serve with a lot of arrogance and resentment.
If you must render a service, please do it with kindness.
Even God loves a cheerful giver, how much more His children! We should always remember our children watch the way we treat other people.
Let them do it too. The willingness to help others will find its footing in their young hearts. Encourage their enthusiasm and allow them show kindness their own
little way.
little way.
Sometimes, it is good to let our kids explore especially when it comes to doing good. And of course with Godly parental guidance, they make better choices.
Praise their acts of kindness. Every baby step they make towards helping others in need means a lot to God. Let us speak kindness to our children when they show compassion to the needs and struggles of people. We are keeping their hearts responsive to real life issues, sufferings, pain and how they respond to these things matters.
Pray for your child’s heart. Please join me say a word of prayer
“Lord, give my children the heart of compassion in Jesus name”
It is takes a willing heart to be compassionate and this is a gift from God.
Let them join other kids. Allow your kids to join the church or Christian fellowship groups or school having a compassion projects like visiting the sick, the prisons, old people’s home etc.
Children learn from watching, participating and interacting with their peers. They learn from seeing their peers show their heart of compassion and acts of kindness. Good deeds are contagious.
In what way have you encouraged your kids in the area of showing compassion?
By His Great Grace,
Ifeoma Samuel
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