5 of 128

Write now Article Tools

Developing compassion as a way of life for you and your children

There is not a human being on the face of earth who does not desire to be loved; it is an integral part of our makeup, the need for compassion or caring from another human being. When individuals don't receive such compassion or caring, it affects that individual adversely. It may be difficult to get some people to relax and respond to love/compassion, but the need for love (compassion) is an innate quality of humans. We were created by LOVE, the Bible declares that, "God is LOVE." We are saying love because compassion is an expression of love. If love does not reside within you are handicapped to demonstrate compassion for a fellow human being. Children will develop compassion for other people when they see parents actively engaged in showing compassion to others. It should be a life style. We respond to compassion or kindness when we have been injured or we are in a desperate situation and need help. When we consider compassion as a way of life for our children and ourselves,we think about the way in which we begin life.

We begin life normally, by receiving compassion and love from our mother. We experience compassion and we learn to test and to trust the way care is given us. We develop a feel for compassion and we start to mimic what we experience. To the degree we value compassion, as parents, by actively engaging in being compassionate, we involve our children in emulating the same behavior and the respect for its' value. We received compassion in that our basic needs were addressed, even if we had someone who did not lavish us with kisses and loving words of encouragement. This is our first contact with love or compassion. Compassion like love is only appreciated when it is shared.

If you think in real concrete terms about compassion, we come to realize that compassion is a necessity of life but we can only share compassion from our personal level of understanding and we instinctively assign how much we value compassion. We never know when we might stand in need of compassion from a fellow human being along life's journey. If we have lived giving compassion to others and encouraging compassion in our children, we will have built a foundation upon which compassion is a fundamental outgrowth of our existence. Compassion, should not be an option but an intrinsic part of our being. We are not all at the same developmental level where compassion is concerned, but we should

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Developing compassion as a way of life for you and your children?
We want to hear your view. Write now!