When Compassion Walked Into My Life

By Tim Lampard

Executive Director of Administration & Operations

When compassion walked into my life, it didn’t arrive as an idea or a sermon—it arrived as a person. Within the first month of dating my wife, I realized she saw people differently than I did. While I could slip into criticism without much thought, she seemed almost incapable of speaking harshly about anyone.

Her compassion flowed easily—in gentle words, in small acts of care, and in kindness freely given even to those who hadn’t earned it. Watching her made me realize how much room I still had to grow in my walk with Christ.

We see this kind of compassion clearly illustrated in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan:

Luke 10:33–35
“But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’”

When compassion walked into the life of the man beaten by thieves, it came through a stranger who simply saw his need and could not walk past it. The Samaritan’s kindness cost him something. It interrupted his plans, turned a traveler into a caretaker, slowed his pace, and even required him to walk while the wounded man rode.

He paid two days’ wages and promised to cover any additional expense. His generosity was open-handed, costly, and deeply compassionate.

Compassion is the stirring of the heart that moves us to care, and kindness is what happens when that compassion becomes action—not because someone earned it, but because of who we are becoming in Christ.

Generosity takes that kindness one step further. It is open-handed giving that trusts God enough to let others take what they need, even when it costs us something. True generosity flows from a transformed heart, offering abundant kindness toward both God and others.

I’ve learned how easy it is to move through life blind to the needs around me—sometimes because I’m busy, other times because I expect people to earn kindness first. If we’re honest, we can even treat God that way, waiting for Him to “earn” our trust or generosity.

But when my wife walked into my life, God used her to show me a better way to love: compassion that moves toward others with open-handed kindness and generosity. Seen through that lens, it’s no wonder Scripture tells us that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Something to Pray

Ask God to stir compassion in your heart—a compassion to care deeply about the things He cares about.

A Simple Prayer

“Lord, forgive me when my eyes measure value through selfishness or merit. Stir compassion in my heart to love the things You love. Help me see and respond to opportunities to practice generous kindness.”

Something to Do

Expect God to place an opportunity before you this week. Pray daily until He answers. Then, step forward in faith—show kindness generously, in a way that requires you to trust God.