Compassion

What is compassion?   "Mercy extended in deeds to another person," or "a gut feeling for the needs of others and doing something about the feeling."  One of the strong messages Jesus sent to His followers was that God and those who love Him are compassionate.

 A poem by Myra 'Brooks' Welch came to mind and I wanted to share it with you:

"Twas battered and scarred, and the autioneer
thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile; 'What am I bidden, good folks,' he cried,
'Who'll start the bidding for me?' 'A dollar -  a dollar - then two, only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?  Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
going for three...'  But no, from the room far back a grey haired man
came forward and picked up the bow; then wiping the dust from the old violin,
and tightening the loosed strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings.

"The music ceased, and the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet and low,
said, 'What am I bid for the old violin?'  and he held it up with the bow.
'A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?  Two thousand! and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once; three thousand twice; going, and gone!' cried he.
The people cheered but some of them cried, 'We do no quite understand what changed its worth.'
Swift came the reply, 'The touch of the Master's hand.'

"And many a man with his life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,
is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin.
A 'mess of pottage,' a glass of wine, a game - and he travels on.
'He is going once, going twice, going and almost gone.'
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul
and the change that is wrought by the touch of the Master's hand."

Praising God for His compassionate touch ~  Bob