Life is not easy.  Although life can go along on an even keel for a period of time, problems will come into the lives of all of us.  Some people may not consider the trials as hardships but only as ways to grow and develop.  Their attitudes may be that life is good even when there are problems.  However, problems come and go to most people on a regular basis.  How we handle them makes all the difference.

Realizing that others have problems and having compassion toward them can help us to appreciate our own lives.  It can make us see that our problems are not insurmountable and our challenges are not as bad as some of the people around us.

There are many among us who have extremely difficult lives.  When we go downtown, we may see homeless people begging on the street for a handout of coins to help them find something to eat.  Although some fast food outlets have started to have dollar menus, it is difficult to find food for a few coins.  This is a world in which money is essential.  Everyone needs some money to get the bare necessities of life.  Begging may be the only way to come by the needed funds to buy a little food.

Sometimes you may hear that people can earn a substantial amount of money by begging on the street.  While that could be true in some cases, for the most part people are only resorting to this method of survival when it becomes absolutely necessary.  It is impossible to help everyone you see, but you can help someone.

Compassion is something that the world could use more of in dealing with others.  Putting ourselves into the shoes of others is not done enough to change the world as much as it could stand changing.  Bearing another person's burdens is not something that most of us find ourselves doing on a regular basis.  Having the empathy to experience true concern over someone else's difficulties does not happen often enough.

A person can show compassion to others through many avenues.  Sometimes a simple smile will help to brighten another person's day.  It may take being concerned enough to give a handout or a helping hand.  It means being in tune enough to those around us to be able to discern when someone may be trying to find help.  It may take looking for opportunities to help others.

When someone commits suicide, those close to him will undoubtedly feel some of the blame, wondering what they could have done to prevent such a tragedy.  It is especially sad when a young person who should be full of anticipation for the future decides that he cannot go on in this life.  The warning signs may have been there, but they were not seen.

Feeling more compassion for those around us would make the world a better place.  Being understanding of others who are facing difficult times will help them and help ourselves.

The problems are all around us.  We may feel like other people deserve their problems, but we don't know the full situation.  There are reasons for their distress which we cannot realize. 

We should feel compassion and also thankfulness for the life that we have.  If it is good, we are blessed.  If we see problems around us, there may be something we can do.  We could be in their shoes.  But for the grace of God, there go I.