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Follow Through on a Compassionate Feeling
There are times when we observe someone has done something that wasn’t right. And we know the thing that was done is going to affect us. When this happens we could respond with a hard line. Demand it be corrected. Maybe even want the proverbial pound of flesh because we were wronged. But should we? Was the wrong done to us intentional? Were there extenuating circumstances? We should be quick to hear and slow to judge. What if the wrong that happened to us was a minor infraction. And while gathering information or discussing the wrong we find out something bad has recently happened to them. Something much worse and they are struggling with their own situation. And as you learn more of their situation you feel compassion for that individual.
When we feel compassion for a person who we may or may not know, more often than not we want to help them in some way. Sometimes just listening can help that person. Sometimes they need a helping hand. Sometimes it is simply an act of kindness that can help them navigate through their difficulty. I had a mistake occur involving a local butcher. He made a mistake because his mind was elsewhere. After a few minutes he told me about his situation. I felt pity for him. I felt compassion for what had taken place. I left the store only to return a short time later with a compassionate desire to give him an act of kindness. When we have that feeling we need to follow through on our compassionate feeling.
