Compassion: Autumn 2

Our Compassion Prayer

God, thank you for the way you show compassion to other people.

Thank you for the way you help us when we’re in trouble.

Please help us to put ourselves in other people’s shoes today and feel what it’s like to be them.
Amen

When someone is in trouble we have a choice.

Do we react with compassion or with selfishness?

Proverbs 11.17 Be Kind!

"Being kind to others helps us too."

How can we be kind in school? We can help our friends when they need it. We could befriend someone who looks sad.  We might contribute to a charitable collection, such as for Children in Need - but we can also be kind in other ways, helping others by behaving well, by trying things out when we might not want to, by being polite. This includes being kind to teachers by following the rules and giving each and every lesson our best effort.

The Lion and the Mouse - An Aesop's Fable

One day when lion was resting
A mouse came running past.
Lion quickly grabbed him
In his paws he held him fast.

'Got you, little mouse,' said lion.
'I'll make a meal of you.
Not much of one, I must admit,
But then you'll have to do.'

'Please set me free, I beg of you,' said mouse.
'One day you may need me.
You won't be sorry if you do,
Just you wait and see.'

'Me need you!' growled lion. 'You're far too small.
Still, I will set you free.
Though how a little thing like you
Could help I truly cannot see!'

Soon lion was trapped in a hunter's net,
He roared aloud, began to fret.
The little mouse could hear the sound,
Jumped on the net in leaps and bounds,
With teeth so sharp he gnawed right through,
Helping lion as he said he'd do.

'Thank you, mouse,' said lion, 'you kept your word,
And now I too am free.
Indeed you kept your promise
And helped to rescue me.
I must admit that I was wrong
And that the weak can help the strong.'

So one good turn deserved another
When kindness was shown one to the other.

The moral of this fable: "Little friends may prove great friends"

Are we Good Samaritans in everyday life?

A Good Samaritan will show someone compassion at any time? Do we always do that in everyday life?

Remembrance & Armistice Days

On Remembrance Day we remember all those whose lives have been affected by conflict since World War 1, and those who have died in particular. 11 November 2019 marks one hundred and one years since the signing of The Armistice, which brought WW1 to an end. This assembly explores how we show compassion by 'remembering' with help from the diaries of a WW1 soldier: Walter Bush. 

Mark 1: 40-42 The healing of the man with leprosy

40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.

Jesus never turned his back on anyone who needed him. He would even help people with really big problems, even when it might be their fault they were in a mess. Even when it was none of his business. If people asked him for help, he always gave it to them. And the feeling that made him do this was something called compassion. Compassion was the way he could put himself in their shoes and imagine what it was like to be them. Compassion made him imagine how he would like to be treated if he was in their place.

Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Active Compassion

To be compassionate we start with what we have to give where we are – we can start by giving people our time and attention. Compassion isn’t about some outlandish or overly generous thing that we do – but it starts just by turning up; by being "there".

Mark 6:34
When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.