Compassion in Action: Raising Kids Who Care

Compassion isn’t just something we talk about, it’s something we live out. As a mom, one of my deepest prayers was for my children to grow up with tender, compassionate hearts. This is the story of how we pursued compassion as a family, and how you can cultivate it in your home too.

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A Legacy of Compassion

As parents, we all have those values we want to see rooted deeply in our children, things we hope will shape their hearts long after they’ve left our homes. For me, one of the biggest was compassion. More than grades, talents, or achievements, my greatest prayer was that my children would grow up with hearts that cared deeply for the needs of others.

But I didn’t just pray for it, I was intentional about teaching it.

When my kids were still little, I started a group at church called Kids for Compassion. We invited children to gather one night a week to worship, learn about needs in our community and around the world, and then take action together. We wrote letters to soldiers, visited nursing homes, packed shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, and prayed for people in crisis. The point was simple: compassion isn’t just a feeling, it’s love in action.

At home, we made compassion part of our daily lives. We served meals to the homeless on Monday nights, went on mission trips, sponsored children, prayed for people who were hurting, and looked for ways to bless others. I wanted my kids to see compassion not as a “project” but as a way of life.

And then one day, without being prompted, I watched my middle school son walk up to a homeless woman and quietly hand her money. I saw my six-year-old daughter string together handmade jewelry to raise funds for tsunami relief in Haiti. This was more than “good behavior,” compassion was becoming their natural response. And this mom could not have been prouder.

Now that they’re grown, I’m even more grateful. My daughter chose a career in clinical mental health to help people heal from emotional wounds and traumas. My son continues to live generously, always looking for ways to lend a hand. Their hearts for others make me so proud and so thankful.

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What Compassion Really Means

Compassion goes beyond feeling sorry for someone. Real compassion moves us toward action. It costs us something, our time, our talents, and often our treasure. It asks us to get involved, to step into the messiness of someone else’s pain, and to do what we can to help.

That’s exactly what Jesus did. Scripture tells us, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Jesus didn’t just notice people’s needs, He stopped, touched, healed, fed, encouraged, and prayed.

And that same call extends to us. Colossians 3:12 reminds us to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Compassion is meant to be part of our daily wardrobe, the way we show up in the world.

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Cultivating Compassion Today

So how do we grow compassion in our families and in ourselves?

• Pray for eyes to see needs. Ask God to help you notice the people He puts in your path. (Philippians 2:4)

• Talk about needs together. To raise children who care, we must give them something outside of themselves to care about. Share what’s going on in the world and discuss how, as a family, you can respond.

• Make service a family rhythm. Volunteer, serve meals, pack care kits, or visit those who might feel forgotten.

• Act, even when it’s inconvenient. Compassion often interrupts our schedules, but those interruptions are sacred opportunities.

  
  

Compassion isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing something and inviting God to use us as His hands and feet. As Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.”

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A Prayer for Compassion

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us what true compassion looks like through Jesus. Open my eyes to see the needs around me and soften my heart so I don’t just look away. Give me courage to step into places of brokenness with Your love, and teach me to use my time, talents, and treasure to make a difference. Help me to lead my family in a life marked by compassion so that together, we reflect Your heart to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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🍃 Scripture to Reflect On

“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” — Matthew 9:36

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🍃 Your Turn

What are some ways you and your family practice compassion? Do you have a favorite service project, a small act of kindness, or a story where compassion made a difference?

Share your story in the comments.