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| My father John holds me at age of three months. Dad died last March. |
This opportunity doesn’t come from our own suffering, rather, it comes from the suffering of other people. Their miseries invite us to show compassion.
Do we accept these invitations? Do we perform acts of compassion?
If we do, it could benefit us when we face the judgement of God. Our acts of compassion might sway God’s judgements of us.
Some people rarely show compassion. Their indifference to the suffering of others represents missed opportunities. Later, when they face God’s judgment, they will regret their indifference.
Other people do perform acts of compassion. They earn grace from God. They will be rewarded for their compassion.
This outlook entered my mind during the last few months. My father John was dying. I lived with him during his ordeal. I did the best I could for him. I treated him with compassion. He suffered physically while I suffered anxieties.
Don’t think I cared for my father simply to earn brownie points with God. I loved my father. I wanted to be there for him.
People often pray to God for miracles. They want cures from illnesses. These cures are requested for other people or themselves. I often prayed for my father’s recovery.
Most of the time, prayers don’t result in miracle cures. It’s not that God is indifferent to suffering. I suspect He has a good reason for not answering these prayers. He doesn’t want to deny us opportunities to show compassion.
Thanks to suffering, and subsequent acts of compassion, there are more souls in Heaven.
