Compassion

You looked at me with deep compassion,
not the kind of compassion commonly showed through veils of judgement, but in the way it was meant.
What the dictionary calls a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

You looked at me with compassion.
You didn't blink. Didn't turn away.
You didn't change the channel because there were pictures of me paired with a Sarah Mclachlan song.
You didn't simply say, "That's a shame"

You came for me.
You broke open the door that I had locked myself in, picked me up, treated my wounds.
You were hurt for me.

You set me free.
You took apart my jail cell brick by brick.
Nail by nail.
You destroyed its foundation so that it could not be built again.

You traded my bruises for Your righteousness.
My life for Yours.

You showed compassion for me.