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There is no hatred, no hurt, no anger, and no fear that cannot be healed by love. Compassion is love for those who have lost touch with their divine nature. When I live compassionately then I am a healing presence wherever I go and I know it. I feel it. In our society we’re taught that it’s not easy to have compassion, but I am here to tell you that it is much easier to have compassion than it is to be filled with resentment. I know because I’ve hated those who were angry and cruel to me. I’ve hated myself for not doing better. I’ve worked with it.
In his book, TEACH ONLY LOVE, Gerald Jampolsky writes, “We can always see ourselves and others as either extending love or giving a call for help. Rather than seeing anger and attack, it is always possible for us to recognize a call for help and to answer with love.”
Living compassionately requires a deep commitment. Every day, over and over again, I am offered the opportunity to prove it by choosing compassion. Initially it was very challenging. There are still times when I have to be with myself for a while before I can find compassion for the person who has been unkind to me. I have a practice of looking deeply into my anger to find where I am hurt. Then I must look at the one who has been hurtful and see where THEY have been hurt and see that their anger is a cry for help. This takes time and attention. There is a satisfaction in my commitment to my practice of compassion. It reminds me that I am fulfilling my life’s purpose.
I used to have a practice of judgment and criticism. I was an expert, an authority on how to judge people. It was a very good place for me to start my practice of compassion. Now, when I look back I smile to think how far I have come. I am so grateful that I made a commitment to a daily practice of loving compassion. It is the road less traveled, but the people I meet on the road today are beautiful. I love them, one by one, and I am blessed.
Affirmation:
I AM living the love!
