Praying when Touched by Compassion
A strong sense of compassion can lead us to pray for strangers or those we don’t know well. Author Donna Teti explains what prompted her to write this poem: “It is a poem I wrote after hearing of the sudden death of a young man in our hometown. I did not know him personally but grieved for him and his family as if I did know them…I found others do that as well when they hear of the pain or loss of a stranger…this poem and and prayer expressed those thoughts and feelings.”
Compassion
I wonder if this is how Jesus feels
So filled with someone’s pain
It doesn’t affect Him personally
But He feels it just the same
His heart constricts
His sorrow grows
As each detail unfolds
He wishes He could remove their grief
For in His heart He holds
Their suffering and heartbreak
As when He carried His cross
He knows too well their crushing pain
He knows their wretched loss
Perhaps we are most like Jesus
When we are touched by the sorrow of another
When we shed tears for a stranger
It is then we carry our brother
Perhaps the anguish we feel so strong
Sends them comfort from above
Perhaps this is when we are enlightened to
The depth of Jesus’ love
Copyright © 2011 by Donna Teti, Used by permission. All rights reserved.