Though we typically go with ancient and medieval women, when one thinks of “compassion,” it’s hard to think of any other figure in history than Florence Nightingale. When I spoke of Esther, I said that compassion requires three things: humility, bravery, and faith.
Florence Nightingale embodied all three of these traits in her exhibition of compassion. She was humble–she preferred people support hospitals to giving her praise; she was brave–she was willing to do a job no one else was willing to do (in a notoriously dangerous war zone), just so she could serve the ill and dying; she was faithful–she served without ceasing and had faith that her work would not be in vain.
To learn more about this woman of modern compassion, I recommend checking out her video and bio on The History Channel.
Portrait By Duyckinick, Evert A. Portrait Gallery of Eminent Men and Women in Europe and America. New York: Johnson, Wilson & Company, 1873.External link: The University of Texas at Austin > PORTRAIT GALLERY > IMAGEThis painting was made based on the photography Image:Florence Nightingale 1920 reproduction.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21234