Be pitiful ∙∙

Be pitiful ∙∙

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. – Romans 15:5

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

The Timeless Power of Kindness

In 1897, a simple but profound message was shared by The Reverend John Watson, writing under his pen name, Ian Maclaren. Invited by the British Weekly to provide a Christmas message, his response was astonishingly brief yet deeply moving. He wrote, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Over time, the wording shifted slightly to, “Be pitiful, for everyone is fighting a hard battle.” At the time, “pitiful” did not carry the negative connotations we associate with it today. Before the twentieth century, pitiful and kindness were nearly synonymous. It was a word laden with compassion, tender mercy, and a genuine sense of care for others. To be pitiful meant to be full of pity, offering kindness without expectation or condition.

Kindness in Times of Crisis

The enduring truth behind Maclaren’s words has echoed through generations, yet it found fresh relevance during the unprecedented challenges of recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world faced unrelenting hardship. Fear, isolation, and uncertainty touched nearly every life. And in the midst of that darkness, small acts of kindness became glowing beacons of hope.

People reached out in ways both big and small. Whether it was a phone call to check on a loved one, dropping off groceries for an elderly neighbor, or just offering a word of encouragement, these seemingly simple actions carried extraordinary weight. They reminded us that even in times of great struggle, we are connected by our shared humanity.

The spirit of kindness is beautifully expressed in another timeless phrase coined by Anne Herbert in 1985, “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” This sentiment became a rallying cry for many during the pandemic, urging us to extend generosity and care to others.

Kindness, as Herbert described, is not about deciding who is deserving. It’s not our role to sit as judges, weighing the worthiness of others before we decide to lend a helping hand. Josh Radnor said, “We just need to be kind, unconditionally and without ulterior motive, even–or rather, especially–when we’d prefer not to be.”

REFLECT & PRAY

Being kind takes strength, courage, and genuine concern for the welfare of others. When we choose kindness, we mirror God’s own tenderheartedness toward us.

Father, encourage me to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving in the same way that you have been to me. May my life be a reflection of Your love, and may my actions bring hope where it’s most needed.

INSIGHT

Finding Strength in Compassion

Life in our fallen world often feels like an unrelenting battle. We face doubts that linger, fears that grip us, and wounds from the past that never seem to heal completely. These hurts from yesterday cast shadows over today, influencing our reactions in ways that reveal the depth of our unresolved pain. We may think we’ve moved on, but the sting of old insults and offenses reminds us otherwise.

Yet, as time passes, our struggles reveal a profound truth. Battles we face are mirrored in the lives of others. This realization awakens something in us. Sympathy gives way to empathy. We begin to grasp and understand the common path we all walk, which reshapes our relationships in a fresh perspective.

James 1:20 reminds us, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” Clinging to anger, regret, or resentment cannot yield the goodness God seeks to cultivate in us. There has to be a better way.

A Call to Compassion

The Apostle Paul provides this better way in Ephesians 4:32 with simple yet profound guidance, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Paul’s words invite us to transform our relationships by reflecting the same tenderheartedness and forgiveness we have received through Jesus Christ. We’re reminded that we are forgiven entirely, immersed in divine grace. The transformation we’ve experienced calls us to extend that same grace to others. This is not simply a guideline; it is a reflection of the gospel in action.

Paul expands on this in Colossians 3:12-13, where he writes, “Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you.”

This new life we’re called to live is more than theoretical. It requires action. Just as we put on clothes each day, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion and mercy, aware of the struggles others endure. True compassion means moving beyond mere feeling to desire to ease the pain of those around us.

“Compassion is often expressed in figurative language, for example, ‘your heart should go out to others,’ or ‘you should feel sorrow in your heart for others,’ or ‘you should weep in your insides because of others’” (UBS).

Kindness, born of compassion, becomes the next step. Kindness, or chrestotes in Greek, is “the virtue of considering another’s well-being as equal to your own.” “It’s a selfless outward focus that requires courage and strength, particularly when kindness must be extended without regard for another’s perceived worthiness.”

Mark Twain beautifully noted, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” It transcends barriers and touches hearts in ways words cannot. It is truth wrapped in gentleness, reaching beyond personal comfort to extend hope to those in need.

Learning Through Struggles

The Father, in His infinite wisdom, has a unique way of preparing His children to offer kindness and bring comfort to others. This preparation takes place in an extraordinary school with a challenging curriculum. It’s sometimes called the School of Sorrow.

This lifelong program invites us to experience pain and hardship firsthand. But we do not face these troubles alone. The Father is there in the midst of our deepest struggles, offering His comfort. Each sorrow we endure teaches us something new about His care; the comfort we receive is tailored to our specific circumstances.

Through this process, He equips us with the ability to comfort others. What we learn in the School of Sorrow becomes a gift we can share, offering hope and healing to those in the midst of their own pain. Paul writes of this truth in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “The God of all comfort…comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

The difficulties we face become tools in God’s hands, shaping us into helpers. Far from making us bitter, they allow us to become vessels of His grace, prepared to minister to others as we’ve been ministered to. The school of sorrow is challenging, but it is a place of redemption where suffering is never wasted.

Reflecting the Father’s Love

Mr. Rogers once said, “When I was a boy and would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” This simple advice points to a profound truth. The world may be filled with countless battles, but God is working through His children to bring comfort and kindness even in the darkest times.

The road is often hard, but through the Father’s comfort, we find the strength to help others. Every moment of sorrow prepares us to be a light for someone else. And when we choose kindness, driven by divine love, we show the world the power of His redemptive grace. Wherever you are in life, remember that God is both your comforter and your teacher. Lean into His love, and He will guide you to be a helper in a world that desperately needs it.

¯_(ツ)_/¯4-24-3

© Dr. H 2025