‘Tend and Befriend’ — Walking Boldly in the Compassion He Calls Us To

“Tend and befriend.”

I heard these three words earlier this week, and I can’t get them out of my head.

“Tend and befriend” is a statement that researcher Shelley Taylor used to describe the nature of women. There’s something innate in us, young women and old-er women alike, that desires to 1) Tend or care for others and 2) Befriend or make meaningful friendships.

We were made for tending and befriending. Which is to say we were made for relationships that desperately need kindness and compassion.

Research scientist Emma Seppala, PhD studies compassion, and she has seen how compassion positively affects our bodies — our health and our self image.

When we smile, breathe deeply, and take time to notice beauty, we reduce our stress level. When we reduce stress, we reduce self focus. And when we’re not so focused on ourselves, we are more likely to show kindness. We are more available to offer compassion.

And isn’t that where God wants us to be? Isn’t that how He made us? He made us to be wise and kind, full of compassion. Compassionate with others and with ourselves.

God knows that I do not always have compassionate thoughts, and he knows that about you also. But he doesn’t leave us in those moments. He stands beside us and offers us help. He offers us “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).

When we read God’s Word, we equip ourselves for battle. We choose to read, believe, and speak aloud Scripture because we will not let Satan dictate the words we speak. Satan will not dictate how we use our mouths, our hands, our feet — every part of these bodies God has gifted us.


Juleeta Harvey
Juleeta Harveyhttps://www.bodytruth.org/
I'm Juleeta C. Harvey - pursuer of the living Jesus, encourager to my man and our five boys, and writer of body image truth. Find me writing at www.bodytruth.org.

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