The Importance of Compassion

The fourth principle is that of compassion.

What is compassion? Compassion means many things to me in my life. Let me give you a few examples. Love is shown to me on a daily basis by my family as they help me with my physical challenges. I need help bathing every morning. I still need help doing simple tasks, like my laundry. Sometimes, I even need help using public restrooms.

These tasks are not fun; in fact, they can be quite nasty for the people that help me. Yet my family members help with these tasks without complaint—without any expectation of reward or return to them in any way. My dad wakes up early most mornings so he can bathe me before he goes to work. When my dad is in a hurry, my loving mother will wash my hair in the sink, even over my vehement objections, I now know she does so out of love. My family helps me keep my dignity in my disability, which means a lot to me. They make sacrifices to help me be the best I can be.

Now, these are just examples from my own life, but an act of love can be something as simple as a smile. Or something as simple as a hello to someone that seems to be having a difficult day. Because it is truly, as has been said before by many, the simple acts of love and kindness that often go the furthest. I am thankful for the people who are willing to help me and assist me even when I don't deserve it, in these ways, because I have no idea where I would be without these people.

But I am also indeed thankful, that service doesn't have to be shown in some grandiose way like people do for me. If it was contingent on those grounds then I would be up a creek. I am not capable of bathing someone, or assisting them in those manners in which they assist me, but I am capable of, perhaps, delivering a smile to someone that really needs it, or offer advice to someone who may need advice on how to handle a situation. Nothing may ever come of these things, but then again, something might. We never know.

We can all show compassion in our own ways no matter our circumstance, no matter our beliefs. All we have to do is look for it and it will bring us peace and satisfaction that is almost indescribable. So, I would invite you to try and perform a simple act of service, whatever it may be. You might just make someone's day. It's a guarantee, your day will be at least a little bit better, if not a ton better. Now, I am not perfect at doing this, but we all have room to improve, I believe. So, I would invite you to take this challenge to serve.

Jacob Everett Head