Compassionate

On Sundays we go to church and listen to the service.

Not just the preaching and teaching,

but what we’re asked to do for others—

a meal, a ride, childcare, prayers.

Keep listening and we hear what’s been done—

a yard cleaned up, canned food gathered.

But listen carefully for quiet words in passing

and we overhear the constant living under-rush of service,

not assigned or organized, just given—

a tire changed, a cup of flour lent,

a day brightened, a grief shared.

~ Tamary Shoemaker
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(From a prompt at Poetic Asides to use an emotion as a title.)