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On a not-so-spectacular rainy day, my army of gentlemen and I sat down to read the book Pog by Lyn Lee. In this charming story, we met a monster who isn’t afraid of anything…except children. According to the monster, children are the ONLY thing to be feared. He goes out of his way to ensure there aren’t children hiding in his room before bedtime, and his brother teases him about his fear.
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So you can imagine Pog’s horror when (on a not-so-spectacular day), he discovers a CHILD! Pog is face-to-face with everything he fears in the world–what will he do?
Now, the child doesn’t know how he arrived in this strange monster world; he is crying and scared. Pog thinks for a minute and then makes his choice. He responds with compassion.
How a Monster can Encourage Compassion
The gentlemen and I laughed at the thought of monsters being afraid of children. Children aren’t scary (they’re sticky…)! But then we thought about it this way:
- How many things are we afraid of–whether people, places, or experiences–because we just don’t know?
- How often, when we’re uncomfortable with not knowing, do we let fear fill in the blanks?
In Pog’s case, he was afraid of children because he didn’t know a child. Once he met one, he wasn’t afraid anymore. BUT–and this is a big but–when faced with his fear, Pog did something exceptional: he reacted with compassion.
Reflecting on Jesus as the Master of Compassion
Compassion. Let that sit with you for a moment. How often in scripture do we see Jesus’s first reaction is compassion? His first miracle of turning water into wine is a compassion story. When Lazurus died, it was Jesus’s compassion that flooded in first. The woman at the well, whom so many feared or ignored, was valued and uplifted with Jesus’s compassion. In fact, Jesus’s compassionate reaction to people who were sick and shunned not only made them whole but also flew in the face of the cultural sensibilities of the day.
ENCOURAGING Children to Choose Compassion
Sometimes compassion actually comes much more naturally to children than to adults. (We have so much to learn from them.) But there will always be times when fear takes over. In those moments, it can be helpful to have a story like Pog to talk with them about as you encourage first responses filled with compassion. Here are some questions to get the conversation going:
- How do you feel when you are new? How do you think others feel when they are facing new situations?
- What helps you feel more comfortable?
- You are so good at helping others feel included and comfortable when they are new, just like Pog did for the child. I want to learn from you. How do you help people feel welcome? (Providing space for kids to reflect on their strengths can help them both build their skills and call those skills forward when they need them.)
- Sometimes we resist new situations because we don’t know what to expect, but often they turn out great. Can you remember an experience like that in your life?
- What can we learn from people who are different from us? How do differences make life better?
Choosing Compassion in Our Neighborhoods
Can we bring this home a little bit more? Shortly after we wrapped up our book party, I checked our neighborhood’s online discussion group. There was a post about a group of transient men making a home under a nearby freeway. I watched as the comments rolled in. How will this hurt our resale value? What if these men are dangerous? What if I run out of gas and am trapped next to these people? All of the responses were based in fear. Fear of the unknown men that had crept into the borders of our little town. Fear of what they didn’t know.
How would the world look differently if our first reaction was compassion?
Choosing Compassion in Our Homes
Momming is hard, and we are tired. There are many unknowns in parenting, and sometimes the simple unknown of “Will I have enough energy to make it to the end of the day with my sanity?” is the scariest one of all.
But here’s the good news. We are not in this alone. When we encounter the fear of the unknown or the fear of “not enough” in our homes, we can draw on Christ’s strength to help us choose compassion.
So, let’s talk mom-fears.
- After I have JUST put the milk back in the fridge and my child asks for a refill, God, let my first reaction be compassion.
- On the nights when I finally sit down to rest after tucking (and re-tucking) everyone into bed and the littlest has a bad dream, God, let my first reaction be compassion.
- When my child makes a mistake, help me to remember all the times you’ve helped me–your child–and God, let my first reaction be compassion.
Sometimes when I feel afraid, it comes out like I am angry or mad. Feelings are complex, and we won’t always get it just right, so we need to remember to have compassion for ourselves too!
Be like Jesus (and Pog)
When we face fears–whether in our homes or in the wide, wide world–we don’t always know what the fruit of our compassion will be or how the story will turn out. I wish I could tell you that making your first reaction compassion will always lead to happily ever after. But I can’t.
What I can tell you is what I am learning: we have a really, really good example in our Lord Jesus…and a monster named Pog. They show us how responding with compassion can give life, how compassion can be the unexpected reaction that helps someone see the world with more hope.
So today as you go about your day, I pray that the people you encounter and the fears that stir you, will be met first with incredible compassion. We’ll work out the rest later.
I’d love to hear how you are embracing compassion in your life or how you are teaching your children to lead with love. And I know our readers would, too! Please drop us a line in the comments section.
Connection Essentials
Whether you read it all or popped straight to the end, look what you found! Here are the basics about using Pog to encourage compassion with your family. (And hey, no prob if you scrolled down. Gotta get it all done before nap time ends!)
| BOOK: Pog |
| AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Lyn Lee |
| Possible themes: |
| –Compassion and kindness can lead to greater understanding and beautiful new friendships. |
| –We can ask God for help as we set aside our fears and respond to others and ourselves with more compassion. |
| Bible verses or stories: |
| –Colossians 3:12 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. |
| –Luke 10:25-37 – Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan. |
| –John 2:1-12 – Jesus does His first miracle. |
| –John 4 – Jesus talks with the woman at the well. |
| –John 11 – Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. |
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If you liked this, check out related posts about:
- Using kids’ books to teach
- Helping kids recognize others’ strengths
- Learning to be more like God from our kids
- Practicing compassion for yourself, awesome mama
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