Empathy & Compassion
1,000 Acts of Kindness

1,000 Acts of Kindness

Would you like to change the world around you? Then make it a habit to do three acts of kindness every day. Do it consistently for a year, and you’ll bless those around you with 1,000 acts of kindness. Since kindness is contagious, many of the people you touch may...

Raising Empathetic Children

Raising Empathetic Children

My daughter was sitting on the floor in my study crying softly. Megan had been sharing a sad story with me, and her emotions overflowed in tears. Her two-year-old son, Andrew, was playing in his room nearby. When he heard his mother crying, he pulled some tissues from...

Seven Steps to Empathy

Without empathy, it’s hard to have real relationship. The good news is that since each of us is made in the image of God, we have a natural capacity for developing and exercising God-like empathy. Are you practicing this marvelous gift in your life? If not, here is an...

The Who, Why and How of Empathy

The Who, Why and How of Empathy

“What is the biblical model, motive, and method for empathy and compassion?” That’s the question I asked last week as we began our study of these two relational qualities. This week I’m going to let you to answer these questions for yourself. Before doing so, let’s...

The Empathy of a Dog

The Empathy of a Dog

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Answers to the Quiz

Answers to the Quiz

Last week I posted an RW Quiz based on a short video clip about a woman in Thailand who was dying of cancer. I was impressed by the many insightful answers I received. The only problem was that I had a difficult time selecting the best answers … there were so many...

If Your Enemy is Freezing

If Your Enemy is Freezing

One night in the early years of our marriage, Corlette and I had such an intense disagreement that we went to bed unreconciled. Yes, we broke the command not to let the sun go down on our anger. As we lay there facing away from each other, a bizarre contest developed....

Olympic RW

Olympic RW

Jessica Long was born in Siberia … without legs. Left at a grim orphanage as a baby, she’s gone on to win twelve gold medals. I’d give her a thirteenth, in relational wisdom. Born as Tatiana Kirillovain 1992, Jessica was placed in an orphanage because of her birth...

I Am Home

I Am Home

Do people feel relationally safe in your home? Your church? Your school? Your business? Is it the place they long to come to when the problems of the world seem overwhelming? Is it a haven of understanding, acceptance, and security? It can be. By God’s grace, your...

Are You Relational or Informational?

Many pastors are much better at imparting information than they are at building relationships. They are comfortable in their studies. They love their books. They pride themselves on their sound doctrine. They come alive in the pulpit as they proclaim “the wisdom of...