Loving Compassionate Footsteps

We can learn to be more like Jesus even (or especially) in our families. Joy can be found when we work towards this type of love. C. Max Caldwell said the following about the love of Jesus Christ, “Jesus’ love was inseparably connected to and resulted from his life of serving, sacrificing, and giving on behalf of others. We cannot develop Christlike love except by practicing the process prescribed by the Master” (“Love of Christ,” Ensign, Nov. 1992).

We don’t have a finite amount of love to share. Love isn’t wasted. Love increases the more we learn to share it. We don’t have to save our love for the strangers we meet on the road to Jericho. This road goes straight through our own living rooms. Love begins at home. 

But sometimes, we don’t see that the things we do at home are important to the Lord. We think we…

When I was in third grade, a new girl moved into our class. Her name was Ellie. She had a beautiful smile but often came to school dirty and disheveled. Many children made fun of her. It broke my heart to see others being so mean. I tried to get to know her, but I could have done more.  I remember one day when Ellie was late for school. She walked in and our teacher, who often yelled at us, yelled at her. I hated it when he yelled. He yelled at her for being late and asked her if she just couldn’t get out of her nice, warm bed. He was really unkind. When he was done yelling, I wanted to offer her some comfort. I quietly went to her desk and patted her hand and told her she looked nice today. I smiled at her and got back…

When I think of compassion, I think of my grandmother. She spent her life serving others even though she suffered from severe depression and anxiety. My grandmother was associated with grief and pain, but she still served. When I was a girl, I loved spending the day with her. If it was Tuesday morning, my grandma got on her black rotary phone and called the people on her Tuesday list to check on them. If it was Friday, she called the people on her Friday list. She would assess their needs, and then we would spend the afternoon visiting the people she felt needed a visit. We made food to take out after she got off the phone. I helped carry the food to people and learned to sit and listen to their conversation. They often said kind things to me and had a way of making me feel good.…