When we lived in Zambia, our son and next-door neighbor boy were two peas in a pod. They loved to explore, climb mango trees, and build forts out of our empty totes. 

One afternoon the boys slipped into our house and tried to tiptoe past us when we saw their sober faces. 

“What is wrong?” My husband asked. 

Lowering his head, my son explained that he had dropped our new American folding saw down the well. 

My husband knew finding good tools overseas was difficult and that the folding saw was perfect for pruning plants in our yard. But rather than yell at our son, he looked at him with compassion and gently disciplined him. 

Isn’t this how our heavenly Father treats us? 

Gently, lovingly. Disciplining us out of love rather than malice.  

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.” Psalm 103:13-14 

The Lord loves us and forgives us continually. He doesn’t remind us of how many times He already has forgiven us or that we don’t deserve it because He knows we need a Savior. 

It doesn’t excuse our sin or erase the consequences. Sin must be dealt with. That is why the Lord sent His only Son to die for us. Our Father’s example should challenge us to show compassion and forgiveness to others. 

Compassion places us in the other person’s shoes, realizes it may not get better, and remembers how much God did for you. Compassion has a mindset ready to extend mercy even though it is usually inconvenient and costly. 

Acting out of the Father’s compassion is only possible when we continually spend time with Him and start to see others the way Jesus does. 

The saw is still at the bottom of the well, but the boys learned a lesson about “borrowing” things and witnessed my husband’s compassion. Possessions can be replaced, but opportunities to show compassion to others are priceless. 

May we be ready to extend compassion and forgiveness like our heavenly Father.