Compassion is almost more important than any other human emotion. It is the clean, sharp edge that cuts free dams of love being held back by fear, misunderstanding, and hardness of heart. It can melt offense off our hearts like wax turned as thin as water. And because it is warm, it comes from Life, and is filled with fire and light. Compassion looks at all the reasons why people do the things they do. It looks at all the information, and puts rash and quick judgements to shame. If we would lean into God's heart over every person we might have a problem with, and learn what HE says about them, what they might have had to overcome or the battles they've faced, we might save ourselves from the pain that judgement and criticism bring. In this way, having compassion on others means having compassion on OURSELVES too. For outside of repentance, we are promised to receive back the judgement we try to measure out onto others. One of the things I love most about the Father, though, is that even when we miss the mark and wax cold in our compassion for OTHERS, He sees the why behind OUR own inability. Even while we sin, the Lord has compassion on us in our handicap, and burns to set us free....to heal our hearts from hardness, wisely discerning that the root of that hardness probably stems from a lack of love and acceptance for ourselves, and from the outward affection and acceptance that was most likely withheld from us by others. He sees every. single. instance. that may have happened contributing to our current state, and wants to address it all, knowing that must happen first for the cycle to be healed. Yes, the eyes of our Fathers heart are wise and true and trustworthy, round and complete and whole, always pouring out mercy liberally, reserving His anger carefully, and giving ample chance for every single person's wholeness, forgiveness, and redemption. This is compassion, and the Father teaches it well.