Compassion

What does it mean to have compassion for someone?

I'm currently reading John Ortberg's "The Life You've Always Wanted" and he talks at length about an experience he had. He woke up early in the morning and just sat looking as his wife in the face. Overcome with memories, he simply sat awake looking at her wife with awe. Love swelled as memory upon memory composed a short film right there on his sleeping wife's face. Then, almost immediately, he thought about how God views him the same way. The parallel is that the way that John was looking at his wife sleeping was much the same as the way God views us when we sleep; overcome with memories and simply filled with joy.

The only way I can relate is one particular time Glorie fell asleep on me. We were with many friends in a cabin and we were watching a movie. We shared our little space and cuddled. I, of course, was totally into the movie and was just happy to be with Glorie and with friends. Eventually, I looked at Glorie (to see why she wasn't laughing at one of the funny parts of the movie), and saw that she was sleeping. A fair bit of drool was dripping from her mouth onto my shoulder...and I couldn't have been any more enamored. It was then that I experienced what John Ortberg was talking about. I simply smiled at her and felt so honored simply to have her in my arms. A kiss on the forehead woke her up where she soon returned a kiss on the forehead and bid me good night.

I didn't have a God moment afterward but I see full value now. Compassion extends beyond a mere good feeling. In fact, it delves deep into love. It is cherishing every moment to being completely satisfied as a result. My only hope at this point is to simply gain compassion for the rest of my life.