At HomeStuff Week of December 6

Virtue: Compassion—caring enough to do something about someone else’s need.


Memory Verse: “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” John 3:16, NIrV

Bible Story: The Angel (Gabriel appears to Mary) • Luke 1:26-38

Bottom Line: God saw our greatest need. Whose needs do you see?

What better time of year to show children what compassion is all about: caring enough to do something about someone else’s need?  God saw our greatest need—our need for a Savior—and did something about it when He sent us Jesus in baby form. Could there have been a more eloquent expression of love and compassion? No way! “The Lord LONGS to be gracious to you; he RISES to show you compassion” (Isaiah 30:18, NIV; emphasis is ours). Imagine His elation when He sent Gabriel to tell Mary about this great gift coming her way! Imagine what God instilled in Mary’s heart and mind in those nine months He prepared her for Jesus’ birth. Just as He instills compassion in us. And just as Mary’s arms would cradle that infant in God’s love, He enfolds the world in compassion through our words and actions. So this week, focus on helping your child understand that compassion recognizes or sees something, that you have to pay attention and SEE what people need before you can meet their needs.
 
At home this week make a list of people around you that have a need.  Have them talk about ways your family could help meet part of that need.