(Photo by Jess Sanchez)

The Best Accessory

By Molly Kelley

As girls we need a lot of things (just check under our bathroom sinks!), but one of the most important of these is friendship. Much different than boys, we girls crave conversation, connection, and validation.

There is something about sitting with our girlfriends and spilling our guts that fills us up like hot chocolate fills an empty cup. It can warm us up on the coldest days. The best part of these talks is the feeling of comfort we receive from a compassionate friend: A friend that not only listens but cares about the hurts we feel.

God knows we need compassion from one another, and that is why He says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12, NIV). As girls, we tend to like clothes, and in this verse the Bible gives us five new accessories to wear. First, is compassion.

The word compassion means “the outward manifestation of pity” (Vines Expository Dictionary). Basically, compassion is not only feeling bad for someone but also doing something about it! So, if compassion is something God wants us to “wear,” how do we show it to hurting friends and even those we don’t know that well?

Here are a few simple ideas:

1. Look & Ask
We’re often so busy with our own lives and problems we forget to look around us and see the hurt others might feel. So, first, take a moment to scan the lunch tables at school. Do you see that lonely girl or know of someone dealing with a hard time at home? Find them. Ask how they’re doing. Just knowing someone sees them and cares can do a great deal for their spirit, and in return, it will bring you joy as caring for others always will.

2. Write & Encourage
Show someone you care by writing an encouraging card. You can include an uplifting scripture and a personal note. If you have trouble finding the right verse, Google Bible verses on hope, courage, faith, endurance, strength, or God’s love. The greatest gift you can give someone is the hope offered by God.

3. Include & Invite
This one’s big! Feeling isolated is never fun. If we can make someone else feel included and not alone, we have done a great thing. So, if you and your girlfriends have plans, invite along your classmate that might be feeling lonely. You have no idea just how much this will mean to her. It not only offers a distraction from their pain, but it’s an extension of God’s love.

Sometimes, we don’t know what to do for someone when they’re going through a hard time, but these are few small gestures that can make a big impact. So, as you wake up in the morning and get dressed for the day, don’t forget to put on compassion; it’s the perfect accessory. It will never go out of style.