Compassion is more challenging than loving kindness as it involves the willingness to feel pain.. for most of us, even to consider such a thing is frightening.
Pema Chodron
This quote from Pema Chodron explains the actions of those to me and others when they (we) have been struggling, grieving or in pain. Moving towards compassion shows we must face our fear of pain and feelings of powerlessness in the face of it. It often means we must move beyond superficial views of wrong and right to embrace deeper or hidden causes. It is a rare person who will be with us in pain and just be present without trying to defend or change anything. It is a gift of love. And what those who are grieving or in pain need most need to receive for comfort.
Emerging From The Dark Night 