| There’s a word that’s been thrown around a lot lately. Some are saying it’s important; others are saying it’s silly. Empathy. I just want to take a moment to share a bit about what God thinks about empathy and why I think it’s a vital part of what we teach our children. |
| What? Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Perhaps, the simplest example is found in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Kids are born self-centered. They cry when they’re hungry or uncomfortable. They do not care whether or not you are busy or if you are hungry; they just know they want something. This isn’t sinful behavior! This is them doing what they are able to get what they need. But, if they continued this behavior into adulthood, yikes. At some point they need to learn that they are part of a family, a community, a world and that it does not revolve around them. We need to help kids in our homes and our churches realize that we can learn from each other, that we can pray for each other, and that we can love each other — even if we don’t agree with them. |
| Why? The simple answer? Because God commands it.The Bible is full of examples of God’s empathy, compassion, and kindness.Luke 8:36″Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”Ephesians 4:32″Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”Matthew 9:36″When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”2 Corinthians 1:3-4″Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…” God is a merciful God, one who mirrored empathy. Since being a Christian means to reflect God’s traits, clearly he calls us to compassion. |
| Who? The story of the Good Samaritan is a great story of empathy. The story of Jesus with the Woman at the Well is also. In both cases, the compassionate person (the Samaritan in the first and Jesus in the second) did not base their actions on the other person’s gender, race, financial status, marital status, or political affiliation. But, rather, they saw a person in need and they helped them. They thought, if I were in that position, what I want someone to do for me? And then they did it. Let’s teach our littles to do this. Here are some examples of people we can show empathy to. Hebrews 13:3″Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison…”Proverbs 14:31″Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”Galatians 6:2″Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”Proverbs 19:17″Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”James 1:27″Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” We can show kindness to people in all different situations that we ourselves may not understand — prisoned, unhoused, widowed, single parent, orphan, foster kids, oppressed, unwanted, minority, unemployed. And, notice, he doesn’t only require empathy, but asks us to stand up for them as well. Proverbs 31:8″Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”Isaiah 1:17″Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed…” |
| How? There are fives steps to teaching empathy and compassion in littles. Model empathy. Be nice. Label feelings. Help them understand their emotions. Manage emotions. Help them control their emotions. See other points of view. “Walk in someone else’s shoes.” Be proactively kind. Get involved in empathetic activities. Praise them when they do something showing compassion. It’s hard to love our neighbor when we don’t understand them. Odds are, we have more in common than we think. And if you discover you don’t, love them anyway! Brenda HuntenCreator/Owner, littleJAMsessions |
Empathy
There’s a word that’s been thrown around a lot lately.Some are saying it’s important; others are saying it’s silly. Empathy. I just want to take a moment to share a bit about…
