Tag: compassion

Compassion Requires Action (Part 2)

Compassion Requires Action (Part 2)
 
There are a number of examples in the Bible where Jesus showed compassion to people in need. He saw their need and did something about it. Compassion is not just an emotion – it results in action.
 
Recently several members of our family personally responded with compassion to the crisis in Ukraine. We have seen images on TV and the Internet of buildings destroyed and thousands of refugees fleeing the war zone. Mother’s with babies and young children are struggling to board buses and trains. Older grandmothers appear confused and afraid in neighborhoods destroyed by bombs and missiles.
 
We may feel compassion for the people in Ukraine but what can we do to help? Our daughter and son-in-law serve with the non-profit organization Josiah Venture in Eastern Europe. They were able to use donated funds to purchase supplies at a large discount warehouse in their community and personally transport these items to Poland. Many other organizations and individuals are doing similar things throughout Europe to help those who are suffering in Ukraine.
 
In addition, our niece left her husband and children in central California to join a team with Samaritan’s Purse to help displaced people in western Ukraine. They flew from North Carolina to Poland on a plane filled with a Mobile Field Hospital. The mobile medical center was then transported into western Ukraine. Samaritan’s Purse brings help to hurting people all over the world. They even set up a Field Hospital in Central Park in New York City at the height of the Covid19 pandemic.
 
It is one thing to see the images of the war in Ukraine on TV and the Internet. It is easy to feel compassion for the millions of people who are affected by the Russian invasion of their country. But it is another thing to become personally involved by buying supplies and driving them to the people in need. It is one thing to pray for the refugees fleeing west away from the fighting. But it is another thing to fly a portable hospital to Poland and travel east into war torn Ukraine.
 
Let me encourage you to pray for peace in Ukraine. Pray for safety for innocent civilians fleeing bombed out cities. Pray for the volunteers rushing to bring help and comfort. Donate to reliable groups and organizations like Josiah Venture and Samaritan’s Purse that are bringing aid and comfort to Ukraine. You can find them on line. You will be glad you did and they will too.

You can read 365 more stories (one for every day of the year) by the author in his book Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. The price is only $20 plus $5 Postage. Order your book at today at Markh@efreedb.org.

Compassion Requires Action

 
One day after I took out the trash I heard the familiar sound of a bee flying nearby. I think it must have hitched a ride on my hair or clothes and ended up in our house. I followed the sound and sure enough there was a bee flying in our kitchen. It quickly searched for an escape route and headed for a window not realizing the sheet of glass blocked its escape. It buzzed frantically against the glass unable to get back outside.
 
I felt bad for my frustrated friend. What could I do to rescue this tiny creature? My wife suggested I use a flower from a vase in the kitchen and try to coax the bee onto the flower. At first the bee refused my help but eventually it did cling on to a pedal. I gently guided the flower over to the open window and shook the bee onto the window screen. I closed the window trapping the bee between the glass and the screen.
 
Then I went outside and removed the window screen to allow the bee to escape. However, the bee clung on to the screen and wouldn’t let go. Now what should I do? I decided to carry the screen into our backyard where our orange tree was in full bloom. I gently put the screen next to a fragrant orange blossom. The bee slowly let go of the window screen and gently stepped onto the tasty blossom. Success! My little friend was safely out of our house and happily sitting on a colorful orange blossom. I’m sure he was exhausted but glad to be free!
 
Why did I feel compassion for my little friend? In the past I might have killed the bee with a fly swatter to prevent it from stinging one of our children. But we have heard reports of the declining bee population. I didn’t want to hurt it – I wanted to help it.
 
There are a number of passages in the Bible where Jesus felt compassion for helpless people in need. He felt compassion for a widow whose son had died (Luke 7:11-17). He felt compassion for several thousand people who lacked food (Mark 6:34-44). He felt compassion for those who were blind (Matthew 20:29-34). But Jesus didn’t just feel compassion – he also took action. He personally helped those in need. Let me encourage you to show compassion and take action to help someone in need today. You may not be able to help everyone but you can help someone. Give some food, lend a helping hand or give a gift to someone around you or someone around the world who needs your help right now. You will be glad you did and they will too.

You can read 365 more stories (one for every day of the year) by the author in his book – Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. The price is only $20 plus $5 for postage. Order your book today at markh@efreedb.org.

Wildlife Rescue

Our niece lives in Arizona. She is a graduate of Northern Arizona University and has always enjoyed horses and other animals. Recently she joined an animal rescue organization as a volunteer to be on call when wild animals are in need of help.

The organization provided valuable training for the volunteers so they could respond when people called in to report a wild animal in distress. We were with her one evening when she received a call from the dispatcher reporting that a hawk was injured and in need of help. I was excited when she asked me if I wanted to go along with her.

We drove to a remote location on the outskirts of Phoenix and met some people who had been able to contain the hawk until we arrived. Apparently they had been able to lure the hawk into a large cage. When we arrived, my niece grabbed a special pair of long gloves that had been issued to her at the training. The gloves were designed to protect her from the sharp talons of the wild hawk.

She put on the protective gloves and opened the cage. I thought the hawk would fly out and escape. But it was clearly disabled and unable to fly. My niece confidently approached the hawk and gently clutched it with her gloves. The hawk did not resist. It was probably dehydrated and weak for lack of food and water. She gently placed the large hawk in a special box, closed the lid and placed it in the cab of her truck. I was impressed with her courage and confidence dealing with this large injured bird.

After she got the bird back to her house, she transferred it to a larger cardboard box and gave the bird some water and food. She stayed up most of the night monitoring the hawk’s condition. It seemed to respond well to the water and small pieces of meat that she provided. In the morning, my niece took her wounded friend to the wildlife care center on her way to work.  

The goal of the wildlife rescue organization is to provide aid for injured animals, rehabilitate them and release them back into the wild. The volunteers are essential to the success of their efforts. Let me encourage you to find a place where you can donate your time to help animals and people.  You will be glad you did and they will too!

You can read 365 more stories and articles by Mark Hopper in his book Let Me Encourage You. You can purchase your copy for only $20 plus postage ($5). Order your copy today at markh@efreedb.org.