What I Learned from My Son’s Compassion

Her name was China. We met her on the streets of New York City, where she lived a difficult life as a prostitute. 

She had contracted HIV, a painful consequence of her circumstances. But beyond her struggles, she was a person—one in desperate need of love, kindness, and hope. Our team had the privilege of knowing her, sharing the love of Christ, and walking alongside her in her final years. Though her life was filled with hardship, she was not forgotten. She was seen. She was cared for. She was loved.

On a return trip from New York City, my then 12-year-old son, Will, broke down in tears. When I asked him what was wrong, he simply said her name—China. He grieved for her, for her suffering, and for the reality that so many others faced the same pain. In that moment, I saw what true, biblical compassion looked like—an unshaken love for another, a heart that breaks for the broken, and a willingness to carry the burdens of someone else.

Compassion is more than a feeling; it is action. It is stepping into another’s world, seeing their humanity, and loving them as Christ loves us. China’s story reminded us that every person, no matter their past, deserves to be known, loved, and remembered.

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

— Colossians 3:12 (CSB)

Will is now a grown man, and his passion for those on the margins remains unwavering. His life is a living rebuke to my sometimes callous heart, a reminder that true compassion doesn’t fade—it transforms.