My Inbox of Daily Inspirations: Daily Heartlight -- March 15, 2008

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March 15, 2008

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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================

Compassion, by Alan Smith

The following short story comes from an unknown author, but most of us
can recognize it as something that could happen in any home with
children.

I'd had a pretty hectic day with my four-year-old. When bedtime
finally came, I laid down the law: "We're putting on your pajamas,
brushing your teeth, and reading ONE book. Then it's lights out!"

Her arms went around my neck in a gentle embrace, and she said, "We
learned in Sunday school about little boys and girls who don't have
mommies and daddies."

Even after I'd been such a grouch, I thought, she was still
grateful to have me. I felt tears begin to well up in my eyes, and
then she whispered, "Maybe you could go be THEIR mom?"

You would think that being aware of others who are in need would make
us more appreciative for what we have. That's not always the case. I
can remember growing up hearing those words every child -- at least,
many a child in the U.S. -- heard when we complained about not wanting
to eat what was being served for dinner. "You need to eat your
vegetables. There are children in China who are starving right now."

My first reaction was usually to think, "How is my eating this plate of
food going to help them?"

God repeatedly rebuked his people for ignoring the needs of people all
around them.

My second reaction was usually to think, "How about if we just stick
this food in an envelope and ship it off to them?"

Unfortunately, being aware of others who are in need does not always
make us more appreciative for what we have -- while it should, it often
doesn't. Being aware of people in the world who are suffering famine
doesn't seem to make us appreciate that we have plenty of food. Being
aware of Christians in the world who are being persecuted for their
faith doesn't seem to make us appreciate that we have freedom of
religion. Being aware of people in the world who have no family or
friends doesn't seem to make us appreciate that we have both.

Sadly, it seems, often the only thing that makes us appreciate
something is having it removed from our own lives for a while. Think
about it. When do you most appreciate the fact that you enjoy
electricity and running water? I'm guessing, if you're like me, that
it's after you've had one or the other unavailable for a while.

In the prophets, God repeatedly rebuked his people for ignoring the
needs of people all around them. Perhaps more than any other sin, the
Israelites were guilty of a lack of compassion:

Woe to you ... Who lie in beds of ivory, stretch out on your
couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the
stall ... who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the
best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph (Amos
6:3-6 NKJV).

Open your eyes to the needs of those around you. Take advantage of
opportunities to help those whom you can. And allow the needs of others
to cause you to reflect on how blessed you are, and the responsibility
you have to use what God has blessed you with in a way that will
glorify Him.

---------
(c) 2008 Alan Smith <alansmith.servant@gmail.com>. Used by
permission. This devotional was reprinted from Thought for the
Day <http://www.TFTD-online.com>.

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Daily Heartlight -- March 15, 2008