To me compassion means just being with someone who needs a shoulder, or company, or a kind word. The word means with passion and since passion makes me think of Jesus' suffering, I picture myself staying with Him till the end, like Mary and John did. They could not take away his suffering but they stayed with Him so He wouldn't be alone with it. So when someone is suffering, I can't always take the suffering away but I "stay" by their side through it. It's almost like you become one with them....