Splink | Compassionate Savior

Splink 1:

Walk a Mile…

Run a shoe relay to introduce the idea of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. Ask everyone to put their shoes in a pile on one side of the room. Then line everyone up on the other side of the room. Get a timer ready (cell phone works great). See how quickly everyone can run (one at a time) to the shoes, put on a pair (not their own), run back and tag the next person who will do the same. You may want to do it twice to see if you can beat your original time.

Talk about it:
What was the hardest part of the relay?

Have you ever heard the saying, “Walk a mile in my shoes”?

What does it mean? (to try to understand others because we haven’t walked/lived in their situation; don’t criticize someone until you have lived in their situation; we don’t know how someone feels if we haven’t been in their circumstances)

We all need compassion! What is compassion? Compassion is noticing someone else’s suffering and doing something about it.

Why did Mary and Martha need compassion? (their brother, Lazarus had died)

We can’t always know exactly how or what others feel, but we can show them compassion.

Splink 2:

I’m Hurting…Can You Help

 Try to understand how others might feel and talk about compassion. For one hour after dinner, put an arm in a sling, bandage a hand, put a blindfold on, put in ear plugs, etc. give each family member a handicap (using scarves, bandages, crutches, etc.).

People who are sad, hurt, sick, and lonely need compassion.

How did Jesus show compassion to Mary and Martha? (He went to be with them; He spoke comforting words; He wept with them; He helped them; etc.)

Jesus is a great example of someone showing compassion. As we see how He loved others, we can find ways to show love to others.

The first part of compassion is noticing when others are hurting or need something. The second part is doing what you can to help them. We can follow Jesus’ example and care about others.

Splink 3:

Try a Little Kindness

Items Needed: Slips of paper (with each of the following written on a slip – lonely, sick, afraid, new to a situation, disappointed, hurt, tired, hungry)

Bag or basket to hold the slips of paper

Talk about ways to follow Jesus’ example and show compassion to others.

Invite a family member to pick a slip of paper and read it aloud. Brainstorm ways that you could show compassion to someone in that situation. Some ideas: listen, smile, pray, serve, help, give, hang-out, laugh, work, include, talk, play, eat, celebrate, call, support, cry, and share.

Read John 13:34, 35. What does Jesus tell us to do? (love one another as He has loved us)

When we show care and compassion to others, others will know that we are Christ’s followers.