Cultivating a Heart of Compassion for KidsSample

Day 1: Embracing Compassion

Have you ever done something kind for someone even though they didn’t deserve it or earn it? Maybe during lunch at school, you saw a person who was sitting all by themselves, and you went over and sat with them. Did you know that action could turn that person’s day completely around?

In our Bible Story today, we are reading about a man who was having a not so good day. He had been beaten up by some bad people and they left him on the side of the road. He was not in good shape and desperately needed help.

Can you imagine how he must have been feeling lying there? All by himself and in pain.

As he was lying there a priest came along and when he saw him crossed the road and passed him by. Then a Temple assistant walked over and saw him but continued to go to the other side and walk by this man lying on the ground. This man probably felt very scared and alone in that moment. Nobody was stopping and helping him.

Now this part is HUGE! A Samaritan came by, and the Bible tells us that the Samaritan saw the man and didn’t walk by him but felt compassion for him. This is HUGE because back in those times Jewish people and Samaritans did not get along at all. This would have been the person the man who was hurt probably thought would walk right by him. But the Samaritan stopped and helped the man. Not only did he help the man and bandage up his wounds, but he also took the man to an innkeeper and paid for him to stay until he was better again. Talk about going above and beyond. This Samaritan man’s actions showed love and kindness.

In Ephesians 4:32 it says, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

The story of the Good Samaritan is a reminder for us of the importance of not just loving people with our words, but also with our actions. Our action toward others is super important and can help change a person’s day completely around.

Who is someone you can help today and what action can you take to show kindness and love to someone?

Dear God, Thank You for loving me and help guide me today to show love and kindness to someone. Amen!