A Little Compassion Goes a Long Way

A Little Compassion Goes a Long Way

Psalm 112:4 "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."

Yesterday we drove to the Costco in Nanaimo.  Often we have been there and it hasn't been nearly as busy as the one in Victoria, but yesterday it was very crowded probably because it is back to school next week.  The most crowded place seemed to be where the clothing is.  Narrow isles and lots of people made maneuvering very difficult, with lots of "excuse me" or "sorry" if you were in someone's way.

At one point I was looking at some sweaters and could hear a bit of a commotion to the left of where I was standing. I looked up to see an elderly man beside a young man with a buggy.  The younger man was saying "you don't have to be so rude" and the older man said "you are the one who is rude".   They made their way past each other and I could see that behind the older man was his wife, who was clearly mortified..  she asked him not to talk like that when he was with her.  

The husband passed me without a glance, but I caught the lady's eye and looked ashamed and nervous at what I might say, so I gave her a little smile and she visibly relaxed, smiled a bit and said "Men!"  so I agreed, "Men."  Off they went, and I didn't see them again.

But I thought about that poor woman and wondered what her life must be like most of the time, and was thankful that for that moment, God had placed me there, wandering around the clothing which I never do, and able to be someone who could offer this woman a bit of compassion.

As believers we often get opportunity to be a bit of a help, and it is up to us to take that opportunity and make the best of it, otherwise regret will follow over what might have been, but wasn't.

vcg/September 2015

Luke 15: The Father With Two Sons

This study of the Father with two sons is for anyone who is estranged from a beloved child.

The Father With Two Sons

Luke 15:11-32

Many Christians are familiar with the story in Luke 15 of the father with two sons, whose younger son desired his inheritance, and left home to go to a far country where he squandered all his money on worldly things (riotous living V13).  When famine came he was in great want but he came to the end of himself, recognized his sin, repented and returned home.

Let us consider the father. (V11 "A certain man had two sons:"  Certainly he must have been a man of much wealth and substance, for he had servants and riches...yet he possessed that most precious quality, unconditional love for his children. When the youngest son demanded his inheritance V12 "Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me"  the father did not argue or deny but willingly divided his living and gave to both sons.  Perhaps the father knew that this might lead to disaster, but he used great wisdom.  There comes a time when we must let our children go, and trust the Lord to care for them, perhaps chasten them, and bring them back to us again, not necessarily to live with us, but to be in harmony as a family.  The father trusted the Lord to bring his son home again.  Scripture bears no record that the father went after his son at all, but let him go.