Friends cheering together
Life has a way of humbling us. At one moment, we are standing strong, confident and secure believing we have everything under our control. Sometimes circumstances shift in ways we never imagined. Wealth, health, employment and social status can change in an instant, reminding us that no one is immune to hardship. That reality alone should move us toward compassion.
I remember the last time when I watched a man who was once the pride of his community struggle to pay for basic medication. He had been a generous employer, a church leader and the person everyone went to when they needed help. He never imagined that one day he would depend on those same people for support. Life shifted, his business collapsed, illness struck and suddenly the man who once carried others now needed to be carried. That moment opened my eyes to a reality we often overlook that today’s helper may become tomorrow’s needy.
The comfort we have right now may not be secured and the security we cling to can become destabilized much faster than we think. Instead of boasting about the position we are in today, we should consider doing acts of kindness, as we could end up needing that same grace someday.
Many people live with the illusion of independence. Independence is important, but interdependence is unavoidable. When we look down at those struggling, we forget that circumstances can change through one accident, job loss, illness or tragedy.
Stories of role reversal abound the breadwinner losing a job, the parent becoming dependent on their children, the carer later needing care, the pupil who once volunteered in charity programs finding themselves in need of bursaries to stay at school. These situations remind us that need does not discriminate and every person is vulnerable.
Compassion is imperative. Instead of asking, “Why can’t they help themselves?” we should ask, “How can I help?” It is through empathy that communities are strengthened and dignity restored. When we treat the vulnerable with kindness rather than judgment we build relationships anchored in humanity.
One major obstacle to receiving help is pride. Many people suffer in silence for fear of embarrassment or criticism. On the other hand, society often shames those who reach out for help, branding them lazy or irresponsible. The stigma deepens suffering. We have to provide a culture where seeking help is not perceived as being weak but part of being human.
Galatians 6:2 teaches, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This verse reminds us that supporting one another is not optional; it is a moral and spiritual duty. Helping others reflects love in action.
So, what will we choose? Will we look away from those who are struggling because we are comfortable today? Or will we recognize that life turns and the hand we reach out now may be the same hand that we need later? Lets help without expectation of return and offer kindness without judgment. Treat every person with dignity, for it is you who may walk their road sometime in the future. After all, the bridge you build for someone else may be the one you may cross someday.
