Compassion and love for others

You know compassion and love are important... but are you fully confident in your ability to cultivate them in your children? 

Let's be real... You live in a world filled with distractions and challenges. Because of this, one of the greatest gifts you can impart to your children is a strong foundation of both compassion and love.

As a Christian parent, your faith teaches you the significance of these values, and by instilling them in your children, you can equip them to navigate life with grace and kindness.

Let's explore the importance of compassion and love and explore a few practical tips on actually cultivating these values within our families.

1. Understanding Compassion and Love

Compassion and love lie at the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus exemplified these values throughout His entire life, showing mercy, kindness, and understanding to all. As parents, we are called to follow in His footsteps and teach our children the value of compassion – to care for others as God cares for us – and love – the selfless, sacrificial love that mirrors Christ's love for us. We should always seek to be more like Jesus. 

It’s such a blessing to pass that example on to your children! It can be sobering to think about how many opportunities to model kindness and compassion for others have passed you by. It certainly has been a realization for me! Often in the rush to get home, start dinner and finish all the things, we can let little moments slip through our fingertips. Simplicity and a conscious effort are key to teaching the lifelong values of love and compassion to our children.

2. Leading by Example

Children learn by observing their parents, making it essential for you to model the values you want them to learn. Demonstrate compassion by actively engaging in acts of kindness, helping those in need, and treating others with respect. Show love through patience, forgiveness, and unconditional support. These actions teach your children that compassion and love are not just general concepts that are talked about from time to time, but a way of life for your family. 

Leading by example doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. The beauty of faith is that you can model your approach after Christ’s approach to you. You can meet your children exactly where they are. You can meet them in the simple day-to-day moments. You must be willing to become conscious and intentional in these moments, which may take a little practice. After all, it's easy to become distracted and overwhelmed in modern-day society. That’s where your decision to being conscious and intentional contribute to your success.  

Even carpooling and trips to the grocery store are perfect moments to model these values and lead by example. Getting in the habit of maximizing impact in the simple daily moments will provide ample time to raise children who are accustomed to interacting in a loving and compassionate way.

Picture a mom who takes the time to provide opportunities to show love and compassion:

One day while out running errands, I saw a mom of two take the time to assist an elderly woman struggling with a challenging door while managing her walker. Instead of jumping in to help herself, the mom encouraged her son, who appeared to be about seven years old, to assist the elderly woman. This simple act of kindness benefited everyone involved and made a significant impact, all in an unplanned moment of opportunity. This young boy was blessed by the gift of serving another, and the woman was blessed by his compassion. Leading by example can truly be this simple, and like this mom, you can be the catalyst that leads your child to a life of following in the footsteps of Jesus. 

In each everyday opportunity, ask yourself how this moment could be utilized to advance God’s Kingdom through teaching your children to show love and compassion. You may be surprised by how many moments present themselves when you are consciously and intentionally seeking them.  

3. Teaching Empathy

Empathy is a cornerstone of compassion – the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Cultivate empathy in your children by encouraging open conversations about feelings and emotions. Share stories that emphasize the struggles of others and discuss how they might feel in similar situations. This helps your children connect with the experiences of others, fostering a genuine concern for their well-being.

Real-life opportunities to teach empathy could present themselves in the most unexpected of ways. While observing others, in real-life or in media, through books you read together as a family, through scripture, and even through role-playing scenarios. Share your perspective and values with your children and remain open to listening to theirs as well. Communication in everyday moments is powerful in fostering preparedness when opportunity arises.

4. Practicing Generosity

Teach your children the importance of giving by involving them in charitable activities. Engage in community service projects, donate to organizations, and support missions that address various needs. By participating together, your children will learn the joy of selflessness and experience the impact of their actions on others. Any opportunity to do things together is a win-win that simultaneously strengthens your bond as well. 

God is always at work through the simple moments, and He often uses broken and flawed individuals to have a massive impact in the lives of others. No act of kindness is too small, and whether you see the lasting impact or not, you can trust that God is at work behind the scenes for your good and His glory. The simple moments of generosity that you may not think twice about, something as simple as sharing an extra snack with someone you notice is without, could be just the example your child needs to witness in order to plant a seed that grows over a lifetime. Those seeds cannot be underestimated.

5. Nurturing Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a powerful expression of love and compassion. Teach your children to forgive others as Christ forgave us. Guide them through conflicts and encourage them to seek understanding and reconciliation. By forgiving and asking for forgiveness, they learn the value of humility and the transformative nature of love. Model this as well in the way they see you forgive others.

As you’re out and about in the world, you may run across people who, for whatever reason, are treating others badly. As unfortunate and uncomfortable as it can feel to have your children witness this behavior, it presents a beautiful opportunity to resist judgment and model forgiveness. Human nature could encourage some to snap back, without realizing their behavior could stem from a significant pain within themselves. Protective nature could encourage some to quickly avoid them and miss the teaching opportunity altogether. I encourage you in these moments to channel the nature of Jesus to model a response for our children that can influence their perspective for a lifetime. This opportunity can be used to teach compassion and love. We can teach our children empathy and the power of prayer. And we can demonstrate keeping hold of our own peace and joy despite facing negative encounters in the world. 

There are many beautiful moments to model forgiveness, each and every day.

6. Using Scripture as a Guide

The Bible offers a wealth of wisdom on compassion and love. Share relevant verses with your children, discussing their meanings and applying them to everyday situations. Verses like Matthew 22:39 ("Love your neighbor as yourself") and Colossians 3:12 ("Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience") serve as powerful reminders of your call to live out these values. 

 Never underestimate the power of God’s Word. When you spend time in Scripture to strengthen your own spiritual growth, you strengthen your children as well. 

As a Christian parent, nurturing compassion and love in your children is a HUGE responsibility. By:

1. Understanding Compassion and Love
2. Leading by Example
3. Teaching Empathy
4. Practicing Generosity
5. Nurturing Forgiveness, and 
6. Using Scripture as a Guide

ou can strengthen your family, instill values that impact countless lives, and contribute to a more compassionate and loving world that pleases and honors God. 

Additional scripture references for compassion and love include:

1. "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." - Luke 6:35

2. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

3. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32

4. "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." - 1 Peter 3:8

5. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." - Philippians 2:3-4

6. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." - 1 Peter 4:8

7. "One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed." - Proverbs 19:17

8. "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." - Colossians 3:12

9. "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'"- Matthew 22:39

If you haven't yet claimed your free 'Family Devotion Starter Kit', you can do that here. This is an exclusive resource we put together for your family to spend time together, with God, in a fun, engaging, and educational way! This powerful PDF download includes a devotional, interactive activity, and meaningful discussion prompt. 

Thanks for reading! 

Blessings, 

Katy Bordeaux