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“MOVED WITH PITY” 155
ders, how can you show consideration for the feelings of
others? When giving counsel, cushion your words with
kindness, allowing the listener to keep his dignity. (Galatians
6:1) Parents, how can you be considerate of your
children’s feelings? When administering discipline, endeavor
to do so in ways that spare your children needless
embarrassment.—Colossians 3:21.
Taking the Initiative to Help Others
11 Jesus did not always have to be asked before he
showed compassion to others. After all, compassion is,
not a passive quality, but an active, positive one. Not surprisingly,
then, tender compassion moved Jesus to take
the initiative in helping others. For example, when a
large crowd stayed with him for three days, going without
food, no one had to tell Jesus that the people were
hungry or suggest that he do something about it. The
account says: “Jesus called his disciples to him and said:
‘I feel pity for the crowd, because it is already three days
that they have stayed with me and they have nothing to
eat; and I do not want to send them away fasting. They
may possibly give out on the road.’ ” Then, entirely of his
own volition, he fed the crowd miraculously.—Matthew
15:32-38.
12 Consider another account. In 31 C.E., as Jesus neared
the city of Nain, he came across a sad scene. A funeral
procession was leaving the city, perhaps heading for
nearby hillside tombs, to bury “the only-begotten son of
. . . a widow.” Can you imagine the pain in that mother’s
heart? She was about to bury her only son, and she
had no husband to share her grief. Of all the people in
the procession, Jesus “caught sight of” the now childless
11, 12. What Bible accounts show that Jesus did not have to be asked
before he displayed compassion to others?