We all want our children to be more compassionate. But where do we begin?

As I’m typing away on my computer, finishing up work for the day, I look to my left and see little fingers reach for my phone resting on the table. “Mom, can you unlock your phone for me? There’s something I really want to order on Amazon.”

Of course. We just passed out our kids’ monthly allowance. So naturally, they have some money burning a hole in their pocket. I’m thankful we can teach them the value of a dollar and how to make a smart purchase. But there’s another lesson I want to teach them in these moments, too.

It’s a lesson about how our kids’ God-given gifts and resources connect directly to becoming thoughtful, compassionate, world-changers. And when they have money in their hand and Amazon and Target at their fingertips, it’s a lesson that takes some intentionality, but is totally doable (and completely worth it).

Compassion happens when we come face-to-face with suffering and feel compelled to do something about it.

In Greater Good Magazine, Hooria Jazaieri breaks compassion down this way:

Bringing attention or awareness to recognizing that there is suffering
Feeling emotionally moved by that suffering
Wishing there to be relief from that suffering
A readiness to take action to relieve that suffering

I know my kids won’t always make the connection that our resources and actions can relieve someone else’s suffering. Compassion is like a muscle; the more we exercise it, the stronger it’ll become. And by using the four components of compassion, we’ve made an action plan to help our kids understand why helping ease the suffering of others isn’t just an important thing to do; it’s our God-given responsibility.

To learn how to create an action plan to help your kids understand why helping ease the suffering of others isn’t just an important thing to do; it’s our God-given responsibility download the complete article here.

GlobalFingerprints is a child sponsorship program that helps some of the most vulnerable children in the world escape poverty and find Jesus Christ through the local church. For more information visit us at globalfingerprints.org

Stephanie’s book, When I Saw You, When You Saw Me, is part of GlobalFingerprints’ free Missional Kids Program that helps children learn the importance of helping the poor in Jesus’ name when their family sponsors a child.

This article is sponsored content.

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