“The merciful and generous man benefits his soul [for his behavior returns to bless him], but the cruel and callous man does himself harm.” Proverbs 11:17

Judgemental, jumping to conclusions without having all the facts, preconceived ideas and opinions are a few of the phrases we can describe ourselves with when we see someone in difficulty and our first thoughts are harsh. When we have no personal experience of something, it is difficult to place ourselves in someone’s shoes, this is why we are called to have compassion – a softness for the person, even though we do not understand the magnitude of what they are going through. This allows us to be approachable and encouraging, even though we do not understand fully. We can be a shoulder to lean on, not having to say anything because what we say will be opinion-based and not on experience. Compassion is born out of a realisation that what they are going through, can just as easily happen to us and we decide to treat them with respect and love, as we would want to be treated if the roles were reversed.

Prayer: Gracious Lord, we sit today with partial knowledge, we know only what we have seen and experienced, but not what You have protected us from that we did not even know about. We have no right to judge others with our partial knowledge and opinions coloured by our own experiences, but we want to be those who help, in whatever way we can. Use as Your vessels, Lord, being a compassionate instrument. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Written by Anna-Mart Nel for www.womenoftheword.co.za