Compassion- a short devotional thought from 2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4:29-31:"29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.30 And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awakened."Compassion is a first-person narrative. Elisha had been provided without food and lodging by this family many times- they even built him his own living quarters! He undoubtedly cared for them.In order to truly help those we love, we have to do all we personally can to help them. It's not enough to supervise from the sidelines.The difference came when Elisha was willing to go and do something about it. Of course, the true power was in God. But Elisha first had to make himself available. I love how Elijah performed the miracle in verses 32-35. He put his whole body into the work of God. True compassion is putting yourself on the line.Compassion is a first-person narrative.