The natural compassion of a child
The link above will (hopefully!) take you to a video of a small Nepalise boy and his reaction to the imminent sacrifice of his goat … don’t worry .. it doesn’t happen … and his actions make the adults reconsider their habits.
Compassion is something that cannot be taught. People either are, or not… anyone can make a decision to “donate” to a charity .. but how many actually care.
Before the referendum in Scotland there was a huge demonstration of bags of food being left for foodbanks .. how many of these people, probably much better off than me, have ever donated again? My bet is not a lot.
I have also witnessed people treat animals badly .. not because they are cruel people but because they lack compassion… I once witnessed someone I knew hit her dog because it pooped on the pavement and SHE didn’t have any bags. I have witnessed someone fling stones at a Highland Cow to get it to turn round just so she could take a photo…. not major cruelty by any means .. but those actions, in those seconds, spoke volumes.
Compassion, or lack of, can only be found in our actions… and it extends much further than just being something temporary to make a point, or to be something we are noticed for.
It should be a natural way of thinking – with compassion comes understanding, with understanding comes acceptance, with acceptance comes peace, with peace comes love.
Compassion should be our priority. Always.
Brae. A gay woman's tale! 
Jul 25, 2015 @ 06:37:54
Dear Brae, is that your name or that of your dog? Anyway, hello. I have been reading your blog and I find it comforting, inspiring, affirming and wonderful. You seem to be a person who is quiet, who knows how to listen and how to love. I too am a gay woman and I too live alone and cherish the silence and the peace that can come with it.
I am an American of Scottish descent. My mother came from Dunfermline and when she died I had her ashes sent to Dunfermline Abbey where they now rest. I thought that was what she would want and a very kind man named McPherson helped to make it possible. He said there was still room for a wee urn in that special area where many noble and famous Scots had been laid to rest. I feel very good about that, I think she would have wanted to be home although she never said. Her name was Mairi Robertson Fraser.
So there has always been a presence of Scotland in my life although I have never been there much as I have wished it.
You seem to have made a very good life for yourself, and I use the word “made” as in built, put together, assembled. I am a writer with two books published and several manuscripts languishing around in boxes waiting. Honestly, the way the publishing world, at least in America, had been degraded I’m not sure I care whether the mss. are published or not. It meant a great deal to me to write them and perhaps that is enough. We’ll see. I am older than you and have had several careers, author being the most recent. Are there any writers you particularly like? And are you an admirer of Susan Boyle? I have several of her cds and sometimes listen with tears in my eyes.
I can see that you are quite busy but I would love to hear from you if possible. I think we may have some things in common and I have found very few people in this life with whom one could really have a conversation.
With friendly thoughts,
Margot Fraser