Moved with compassion

 In Matthew 18,  while teaching about forgiveness Jesus tells the parable of the debtors.  It's a familiar story to me and I've read it many times.  A servant owes a substantial sum of money.  He goes to the Lord to beg for mercy so that his possessions and family won't be taken from him.  But when I came to verse 27 this time, a phrase jumped out at me. 

"Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt."

He was MOVED with compassion.  

He moved or changed his point of view.  He saw it differently.  He let the perspective change give him more information.  And that softened his heart and therefore his actions. It also "moved" him into action.  He forgave the debt.  (Unfortunately the debtor doesn't pay that forgiveness forward, but that's a lesson for another day).

I wonder how often we try to be compassionate while refusing to consider any point of view besides our own.  We don't have to agree but with humility, we can learn from others and that will often cause us to move just a bit toward kindness. 

One morning as I was wrangling 17 4-year olds from the freezing air into the warm classroom, one little guy seemed to have an extra dose of energy.  He was crawling on top of the tables, under the chairs, and jumping off stools.  I somehow managed to get his coat unzipped and off him while he was attempting handstands and backflips.  Even after two activity songs he was still going strong.  

So taking his little hands in mine I mentally reviewed the possibilities and asked him, "Wow! You sure do have lots of energy today.  Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yep."  He spun around two more times and then began climbing up my legs.  I gently moved to the side and then led him to do some more jumping as I tried to focus his attention.

"And did you have breakfast?"

"Just coffee..."

My assistant caught my eye and we both sighed.   I was frustrated knowing that isn't the most healthy choice for a 4-year old.  Nor does it make for a fun morning at preschool.

But before I could finish my thought he continued as he danced around me still holding my hand, "Remember.  My mom doesn't get her paycheck until Friday and she didn't want my tummy to be cold and empty."

And at that moment I was MOVED with compassion.  The facts before me didn't change.  I still had one very hyped up little boy to keep from harming himself or others for the next three hours. (And if I recall correctly I got my 15,000 steps in before lunch!).  But my approach changed greatly.  

I got him some crackers and milk and asked my assistant to take him on a walk.  We tagged back and forth all morning as the effects of the caffeine wore off.  And then I checked in with his mom and sent some extra food home.  

At least four times in the New Testament Jesus is described as being "moved with compassion."

Sister Barbara Thompson taught, "He had compassion when He saw that they were hungry and He fed them, or when they were sick and He healed them, or when they were in need of spiritual enrichment and He taught them.  Compassion means to feel love and mercy toward another person. It means to have sympathy and desire to relieve the suffering of others. It means to show kindness and tenderness toward another."

We can follow Him by letting Christ-like compassion move us and as we then serve others, we will find that it also brings us closer to Him.