While at the mall a lot of times my husband and I like to observe the
people around us. People watching can be very entertaining sometimes! Don’t
judge, you know you do it too!
So as I was watching people walk past me, it hit me that far too
often we neglect to recognize that each person around us has their own life.
Their own story to tell. I began to imagine all the possible reasons behind why
the person 3 feet away from me was smiling to herself, why the person walking
past her was frowning, and why the person coming to sit on the bench beside me
looked tired and defeated. Each one of them has their own regrets, losses and
failures. They each have their own memories of personal victories, bucket lists
of things they want to do and places they want to go…
Each one of them is a person. Just like me! Not of less importance
than me, not less of a person than me, not better than me!
A person.
Just. like. me.
Sometimes I wish I could walk a mile in someone else's shoes...
I think it would really open my eyes and force me to remember that other people are hurting,
other people have their own heartaches and they each need someone to love them.
How often I allow my own problems to consume me to the point where
I forget there are PEOPLE around me. They quickly become simply a disruption to
my busy well-planned day. I’m ashamed to admit how often I am irritated with
the person ahead of me who isn’t walking fast enough, or the person I inwardly huff
past in the public restroom who took too long. When in reality, that elderly man ahead
of me is still recovering from his last excruciating hip replacement, and the wife
and mother-of-4 holding up the restroom was suddenly sick from her last chemo
treatment while spending precious time out with her children.
They each have their own full plate of problems and it is my life’s
purpose to LOVE them!! To encourage them! In the midst of the hustle and bustle of everyday life, take a moment to brighten someone's day with a smile!
People are what matter to
the Lord!
He commands us to love, show compassion and share His love with
others.
1 Corinthians 13.13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these
three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.”
John 13.34 “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one
another; As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
Let us never lose sight of our purpose.
2 comments:
Beautifully written Danielle. I am so blessed to have a niece who is so thoughtful, God-fearing, Jesus-shining and compassionate. Keep on writing....keep on shining. Love YOU!!!
Thanks Aunt Jodi!! =) Love you too!
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