Twenty-one years ago, on July 3, 1988, the guided-missile cruiser USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian airliner with 290 souls aboard. All were lost. The ship’s captain had mistakenly thought they were under attack by an F-14 Iranian fighter. It was a tragic mistake.

Because the cruel treatment of American hostages in Iran was still fresh in many minds, public opinion polls opposed paying compensation to the victims’ families. But President Reagan, a hard-liner, approved compensation. Asked by reporters if such payment would send the wrong signal, he replied, “I don’t ever find compassion a bad precedent.”

The feeding of the 5,000 was a miracle born out of compassion. Jesus was moved by the physical and spiritual needs of the people (Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:34). As Christians, we must look at the whole person through the eyes of Jesus. Being moved by compassion always sends the right signal.

When was the last time you showed compassion to someone in need? Tell us about it.

Tags: compassion, hero, Reagan