A Three Year Old's Compassion

This is a story of a three year old who showed Christ's compassion and love....

Brayden had just received a gift from his sweet grandparents, but unfortunately he was not a big fan of the gift...a Raggedy Andy doll.  I suppose that Andy might look a bit scary to a child with his big wide eyes, triangle nose, and red hair.  After all, he does look DIFFERENT from what normal dolls typically look like. After several prompts from me, Brayden finally said "Thank you," quietly to his grandparents, but did not touch the doll for the rest of the trip.

A doll all alone and in need of some love. 

One morning after the trip,  I had set Raggedy Andy on the rocker, and Brayden saw him.

 "Mommy," he said,  "I don't want him, he looks so different."

So began a discussion.  I said, "Awww....poor Andy.  How does he look different to you?"  

Brayden pointed to Andy's nose and eyes and talked about how they looked different.  

'Brayden,' I said gently, 'Remember one of your favorite books, "The Love Monster,"  where no one wanted to love the monster because he looked scary and different, but then a Mama found him and loved him anyway?  He wanted a home too, but no one would love him at first.'  

We then proceeded to talk about his favorite "Jay Jay" plane book where it talks about how God loves those who are different. The story showed different looking planes.  

I looked into Brayden's eyes and said, "I think Grandmommie and Granddaddy wanted Raggedy Andy to have a home where he would be loved even though he looks different, and they chose you because they knew you would love him."  

The result: I have never seen a more compassionate three year old.  He took Andy into his arms and started hugging him and giving him kisses.  He spent the morning sharing his cereal with Andy, giving Andy a drink from his cup, and took Andy for a piggy back ride on his shoulder.  He cuddled with Andy while watching TV,  took Andy with him to Walmart, and even put chap stick on his doll.  That night he hugged up to Andy and went to sleep with him safely in his arms.  He is now in love with his doll because he took compassion on him and decided that Andy needed love to.

I wonder what would happen if we would love people the same way?  If we would not turn away from them because they were different, but if we saw them through the eyes of Christ....through the eyes of his unconditional love and acceptance. Maybe we should learn a lesson from this three year old child and show people compassion no matter how different they are from us.  We all may be different, but our hearts are all the same...broken and in need of a Savior.  Instead of looking down on others, lets take the time to show them Christ's love and point them to our need for Him.  

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11