Yesterday, I posted ideas on how to sharpen your mind in the coming year. Today I offer the second installment of ideas for personal growth. These are some practical things you can do to develop a tender and compassionate heart. Read and pray through this list of ideas and consider what God can do in and through you if you will make yourself available to Him throughout the New Year.
Focus on others. | Make it a point to do three things as you engage with people throughout the day. First, notice the color of their eyes. Second, remember their names. And finally, try to make them smile. Read my post entitled Heather’s Challenge to learn more.
Listen to what others have to say. | Focus your attention on those who are speaking with you. Learn to patiently listen without waiting to break in. Listen with your heart as well as your head. Listen in such a way that the other person knows you care and want to hear what they have to say.
Keep a “count your many blessings” journal. | Don’t be oblivious to the many blessings that come your way every day. Be alert to and aware of every good and perfect gift from God (James 1:17). Start your list with things like “health, home, family,” etc. Do the math on your blessings — count them!
Write at least one thank you note per week. | Make it a point to acknowledge the kindness of others. Expressing gratitude to others is a great way to keep pride in check and to encourage those whose kindness has touched you and others.
Send a Valentine to a senior adult. | Many elderly adults live with little or no contact from family and friends. Whether confined to their homes or to their beds, the pain of loneliness is often accentuated for the elderly. Send a Valentine’s Day card and other holiday greetings to lonely elderly adults.
Invite someone who is lonely to share a meal with your family. | Mother Teresa said, “As far as I am concerned, the greatest suffering is to feel alone, unwanted, unloved.” Loneliness is not the absence of people. Loneliness is the absence of relationships and contact with those who care. Be a friend to the lonely.
Pray daily for others. | Be aware of what others are going through and pray for them. If you know someone going through a difficulty, offer to pray for them on the spot! You might be surprised how doing so will bless and encourage others and perhaps give them the needed resolve to persevere.
Make more room in your life for the least of these. | Take inventory of the people you know or come in contact with every day. If you can’t identify any from among the least of these (see Matthew 25:31-46) in your circle, then your life is too sheltered. Take steps to meet and to care for the people Jesus cared about.
Spend less on yourself and give more to charitable causes. | An Amish man reportedly told a new neighbor, “If ever thou needest anything, come and see me and I will show thee how to get along without it.” Evaluate your personal spending and give up the things you really don’t need and invest that money to help the least fortunate.
Go Beyond 
Omar,
I am keep reading the post called’ Soften Your Heart’ you have given nine headlines that we can practice in our own life as our activities. This is wonderful to do obedience to God. As He expects from us as His children. I should say about my self to obey what ever He saying me!
I am reading those verses, James 1:17, Matt: 25:31-46.
Thanks,
Mortuza
Bangladesh
P.S. I have readed from Kingsland web page. ‘When God’s Daughter cry, by S. Sowell. I have found it in the ‘Pastors corner’ please tell her that, I would like to leave a comment for her but do not accept any comments there.
By: Mortuza on December 29, 2008
at 12:01 AM
Helpful post. Thanks. Saw that your interested in personal growth. Here is a tool that might be helpful to you and others you serve. http://www.p4cs.wordpress.com.
Blessings,
David Zook
A Physical for a Christian Soul
By: p4cs on December 29, 2008
at 12:38 AM
Omar,
Great talking with you this morning. Many thanks for the time you take to communicate such helpful and focused thoughts….
Blessings,
Rob Cowart
By: Rob Cowart on December 29, 2008
at 8:18 AM
Love your teaching–so I am obeying you–I want to thank you not only for your teaching but how you have jump kicked our mission interest. I so appreciate your leadership–Ed and I are a little over the hill to do one of your trips but you have our prayers. Thanks again, Phillis
By: Phillis Mitchell on December 30, 2008
at 2:20 PM
Omar,
Notice the color of their eyes? I did a quick assessment and in my mind noted the color of the eyes of my fellow nurses at work. Although able to tick off the colors in my mind, as I have worked with them for so long, a different aspect became apparent. When I look in their eyes I see kindness and merriment. That is how we survive the compassion fatigue which at times overtakes us.
Aren’t your eyes the color of compassion too? smile
But yes, to actually know the color of someone’s eyes speaks of a level of intimacy and caring that many people crave. It involves more than the cursory greeting and a willingness to interact socially. Today, in honor of your thoughts, I will look into a few more eyes at work and tell coworkers they have value.
Tammy
By: tammy swofford on December 31, 2008
at 6:55 AM
I started a blessings journal on New Year’s Day after reading this post. On day 3 my husband asked me what my blessings for the day were. After thinking for a moment, (I shopped that day and sales were great but I didn’t really think that counted as a blessing), I told him that I had left both the iron and candle warmer on overnight and the house didn’t catch on fire! He laughed but we both agreed that blessings are blessings, it never needs to be huge to count.
By: Amy Granger on January 5, 2009
at 8:55 AM