Move With Compassion: A 7-Day Advent DevotionalSample

See: Ricardo’s story

“I want to live. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but I want to live today holding God’s hand.”

Ricardo clutched his stomach and groaned. He was visiting his aunt for the holidays and had developed a severe stomach ache. He tried to ignore it, but the pain kept increasing so he finally told his aunt, who took him to the hospital.

Ricardo had an emergency surgery and seemed to be recovering well … until he got sick again. Two months later, Ricardo underwent another surgery where the surgeon discovered that his intestines had been perforated and infection was flooding his body.

Ricardo’s mother, Fanny, remembers the terrible update: “Your son may not make it.”

She sat outside his hospital room and opened her phone.

“It was 1:30 in the morning when I called Graciela, the Compassion Center director,” says Fanny. “I told her, ‘I need you to pray because there is a fight to win. My son is between life and death.’ And she told me, ‘This is now in God’s hands. God knows what He is doing’.”

After Ricardo was transferred to the ICU, Graciela, his Compassion Center director and her husband, Pastor Raul, came to visit. Ricardo shared how he couldn’t sleep because of pain and fear. Graciela encouraged Ricardo to pray the words of Psalm 4:8:

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (NIV).

Soon after that visit, Ricardo’s body began to fight the infection. He turned a corner and was finally able to go home. The entire Compassion Center mobilized to support the family and cover the cost of the special diet Ricardo now required.

“This is our task [as the Church],” says Pastor Raul. “To support, share, embrace, carry the burdens … this wonderful grace that God has commissioned us.”

It is impossible to separate the physical healing Ricardo experienced from the ways he has been drawn deeper into hope and faith. He has watched the Church be the hands and feet of Jesus for him and his family. His body may bear the scars of surgery, but his soul bears the hope of Jesus. And he will never be the same.

Ricardo studies the Bible with Pastor Raul and Graciela.

Feel: Jesus’ heart

When Jesus encountered the most vulnerable, He was moved with compassion.

Move: Your action

Compassion Center director Graciela and Pastor Raul were a huge encouragement to Ricardo when he needed it most. Along with the practical support the church and Compassion Center provided to his family, one simple action filled Ricardo with hope when he needed it most. They shared a scripture.

Move with compassion and share a scripture with someone today.