True Compassion Is Love In Action

The story is told of a homeless woman who one night slowly shuffled into a Chicago subway. From the wrinkles on her brow, one could tell she was old, and she had only ragged clothes to protect her from the bitter Chicago winter wind. She took the nearest seat, her shoulders hunched against the cold — her eyes cast down. Her white, cracked, bony hands clutched a worn shawl tightly around her. A passenger seated next to her watched with wonder and pity.

At the next stop, an energetic young man strode confidently onto the train, his cheeks red with health. His clothes were sharp, his hair immaculate, his step graceful. He too saw the woman’s silent misery. Three stops later, as the train slowed, he glided by her to the other door and disappeared into the tunnel.

On her lap lay his brown leather gloves.

Whether or not this young man was a Christian, only God knows. But he saw the homeless woman’s need and responded with compassion — while the passenger seated next to the woman just sat there. It never occurred to him to give her his gloves.

That young man’s compassion reminds me of the kind of compassion that moved Jesus to heal two blind men near Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34), and ultimately, to give His own life on the cross for our sins (Romans 5:5-8; cf. Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Peter 2:20-24).

Dear reader, let’s follow our Lord’s example by reaching out, showing compassion, and giving hope to people in need (1 John 3:16-18).

Remember that true compassion is love in action.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets