Day 22 — Compassion as Gratitude
- Scripture: Micah 6:8: What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
- Reflection: Gratitude becomes faith in motion. Extending this mindset to our interactions with other people then results in compassion, curiosity, and kindness.
When we are struggling to be patient, to see another person as a human with issues of their own, we can take a few deep breaths. Count backwards. Slow ourselves down. Even wonder what might be going on in another person’s life, that could prompt the ways that their feelings spill out into the world and touch us.
We don’t have to take on other people’s negative energy or issues. While we cannot control others, we can shape how we respond. Our intentionally positive approaches and interactions with people, throughout the day, then changes our own brain chemistry. It certainly helps boost other people’s experiences.
Studies show that compassionate action increases happiness and reduces stress. Faith and science agree: kindness heals. - Practice: Perform one anonymous act of kindness today.
Song:
- Kindness song by Songs for School: https://youtu.be/pK-0KAHqAk0?si=Lq9pnxZO1H_twzmV
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” — Ian Maclaren
Nov 22 Daily Devotional