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Love & Compassion: The Values that We Need To Inculcate in Our Hearts and Minds [BLOG #3]

All of the Bible references are from the New International Version.

Love is a word that often gets thrown around in our lives, but it is also a word that we struggle to define. Is Love a feeling? An emotion? A choice? Or an action? Love is a complex concept for our minds alone to comprehend. But God enabled us to know what Love is by sending His only Son here on earth to redeem us from our Sin.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Everything that Christ did in His life here on earth was deeply rooted in love. He made us see and understand how powerful love can be, how it knows no bounds, and that it never fails. He helped us understand what true love is by showing it through His actions. He showed kindness even with the most undeserving ones, forgives those who have wronged Him, and helped people -physically and spiritually. He suffered for something that wasn't even His fault and even laid down His life to save all of us. He did all that because of His immeasurable love for us. 

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” – 1 John 4:11

God showered us with His gracious love despite knowing our every flaw and imperfections. He loves us endlessly and sacrificed His own life to redeem us from our sins so that we can be with Him for all eternity. Even when we are unworthy, He loves us unconditionally. As God's people, we should also give the same love that we receive from Him. A kind of love that is kind, forgiving, unconditional, and righteous. 

No one can be on par with how unconditional and endless God's love is, but every day we should strive to do every little thing with love, just like how Christ did. Actions, no matter how grand, are shallow without love. God commands us to love one another as we love ourselves. To truly love others, we must be willing to sacrifice for them and put their well-being first before anything else. Doing that is not an easy thing to do since it is part of human nature to seek love for themselves and care for their well-being first. But it is possible as long as we wholeheartedly understand and receive the overflowing love of God. He will make our hearts so filled with His love that we don't have to seek love from elsewhere and that loving others will be as natural to us as blinking our eyes.

[alyssacamille]

The Power of Love and Compassion In Times of Darkness and Uncertainties [BLOG #2]

All of the Bible references are from the New International Version.

"But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." — Psalm 86:15

From the beginning of time, God's love and compassion saved humanity from their pain and sufferings. Our Almighty Father is the epitome of love and compassion. And as His people, who are created in His image and likeness, we share this same quality as Him and are called to have a compassionate heart towards other people.

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." — Galatians 6:2

Having compassion isn’t just about being aware of the suffering of other people, but it is about sharing in their suffering as well. It is a feeling of love that moves us and prompts us to take action to help alleviate the pain and suffering of other people. It is seeking justice in a society that is unjust, being a voice to the voiceless and fighting alongside the oppressed and marginalized.

Sharing in the burden of others isn't an easy thing to do. Our own pains and problems hinder us to act compassionately and receive compassion from others as well. Our earthly desires and aspirations can blind us and make us neglect the thing that we are called to do — which is to serve God by serving other people. There are also times that adversity creates a divide among God's people, and it is in these times we are most challenged to show our compassion because the hardest act of compassion is the one you give to people you don't agree with or are not close with.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us all in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God wants us to show compassion with one another. He places us in situations where we can give others the same mercy and compassion that He has given to us. Everyone, even if we don't want to admit it, needs help and compassion in our lives. The world will be a much better place to live in if everyone will look past their own pain and comfort other people as much as we are comforted by our Heavenly Father.

In this time of darkness and uncertainties, may we seek compassion in our hearts and be the light and hope to those who are most in need of our help. It is now more than ever that we should practice compassion in our daily lives. The help we extend may seem little to us, but it can make a difference to the lives of the person receiving it.

"Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous." — Psalm 112:3-5

[alyssacamille]

Love & Compassion: The Values that We Need to Inculcate in Our Hearts and Minds [BLOG #1]

Its been a year since the Philippines has been placed under lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a year filled with challenges, fear, sorrow, and isolation. It has forced us to transition from something that is far from what we are accustomed to. Health services were stretched out, educational institutions shifted to virtual classes, millions of workers are laid off and countless families are grieving the loss of a loved one. It feels like we are living in a movie or book with still no ending in sight. It has been really difficult, and greatly impacted the lives of everyone. The pandemic has been difficult for someone like me who is blessed with a great home, a speedy internet connection, food on the table. It made me wonder just how difficult it is for people who don't have the same privilege as I am.

This pandemic took a lot in my life, from lost time with friends and experiences that could've helped me become a better person. But it also has given me time to think and reflect. It has allowed me to pause and see how much injustice and oppression there is in this world. The pandemic burst a bubble that I wasn't even aware that I was living in. It made me reevaluate my life and ask myself if I am truly living by the values that I believe in. Everything that I have realized and known made me thirst for change. And I know that the change I want to see should start with myself, and to bring about social transformation, people should live by these two values in every aspect of their lives — love and compassion.

In this blog series, I would like to take you on my journey as I delve deeper to understand the value of love and compassion and how living by it can contribute to a positive social change in our society.