A Story of Compassion

Perhaps God wants to do something in me regarding compassion for He not only allowed me to hear a beautiful example of compassion but recently gave me this word as well: “Compassion enlarges our heart’s capacity while fear restricts it.”

Here is the story (with names changed to respect privacy) that I cannot get easily forget:

She used to be a regular mom with several children of her own. Then things changed. Whether it was through dabbling in the spirit world herself, being drawn into it because she had twins (a fearsome thing), or being outright cursed, something happened. She became insane and the demons tormented her. No longer was she a normal mom with normal friends and a normal life. Now she was a 30-something outcast whom people feared and no one loved.

It grew worse. Her insanity caused her to step in front of a car. Her legs were never the same after that accident and her only mobility came by dragging herself around in a sitting position. Her hands grew filthy from propelling herself along, as did the lower portion of her body from being continually dragged in the dirt.

Old friends avoided her; no new friends took their place. None? Enter Mercy, a nurse by trade and compassionate by nature.

She sat with the suffering one on her filthy mat. Magdalene was too lost in her world of insanity to carry on a conversation. But love doesn’t always use words. Love brought food and shared it with Magdalene. Love washed the filthy blanket Magdalene used. Love returned again and again, always giving selflessly and not expecting anything in return. There was little communication and certainly not even a “Thank you” to the only friend who cared for her.

The neighbors were watching –from a distance, of course. “That was my friend,” another young mother said of Magdalene. “We were always together and now look at her.” She clucked her tongue and shook her head helplessly as she turned away. There was no family to care for Magdalene. Her mother passed away when Magdalene was a child and the Auntie who raised her was far away.

Things worsened. Poor hygiene and subsequent disease caused the crippled form to lose her health and today she is dying.

Neighbors were curious but distant. They clustered together and watched as Mercy entered the home of the dying. “She isn’t afraid of the devils,” they said of Mercy. Mercy smiled compassionately, finally understanding why folks avoided Magdalene. They were afraid.

Alone, Mercy sat by the side of the dying for hours. Chickens wandered in. A little boy sneaked in, looking to see if the dying had any coins lying around that would not be needed in the afterlife. A drunken woman did the same. The rest kept their distance, watching.

Mercy spoke to Magdalene again about Jesus. Again she prayed. She shared with Magdalene what Jesus could do for her. And finally a text came from Mercy saying, “I saw demons leaving her. She is in absolute peace. Looks me straight in my face when I share about Jesus and His love for her.” Praise God Jesus still has mercy on the demonic sufferers. And praises to God that His salvation even reaches the outcasts.

Peace came, but healing hasn't for maggots are already doing their gruesome work to the ravaged body. It is only a matter of time until the sufferer is released. She will little be missed. Except by Mercy who was love and compassion personified to the outcast no one loved.