Walk a Mile in Their Shoes
It is so easy to be critical, from the outside looking in, towards someone from your point of view.
We all have done it, and it is so easy to judge, not knowing the circumstances or the history or the emotions behind what we are witnessing.
We make assumptions based on our past experiences and current moods, leaving compassion behind.
This usually happens because we are in a hurry, and we are more worried about our schedule rather than feelings and people.
We don't have time to waste on little inconveniences like people and the speed bumps they put before us.
It's easy to condemn when it is not us...
when it is someone else who is "in the way".
Sometimes we are not critical, but we just don't want to be bothered with their"baggage".
After all it's not our problem! We are too concerned with what's going on in our lives to take the time and show mercy and grace toward another.
Sound familiar? The other evening I was driving my gigantic SUV while towing a trailer which was carrying a golf cart at night traveling 200+ miles (Are you still with me?).
I feel like I am a good driver, and I can drive and park the heck out of my SUV...
and usually I have a pretty heavy foot.
Well, I don't see very well at night, and for me to be towing something, which I have only done a few times in my life, made me very uncomfortable...
especially when HUGE big rigs and motor homes were coming at me, separated by only a tiny white line.
Now I know what "white knuckling it" means.
One slip of the steering wheel or a slight serpentine of the trailer and it could have been disastrous! I was not holding up traffic by any means and I actually passed a few cars.
Yes, I was passed also...
but I was going above the speed limit...
just safely and at the speed I felt comfortable going.
So, I did not feel the added pressure of cars on my tail or being honked at or anything like that.
But, if I had those extra stresses, I would have been a real ball of nerves! Fast forward a few days.
We are safely home from our vacation and we are headed to a function at a friend's home.
I am driving my huge SUV, and I am not pulling a trailer...
hence...
I am comfortable, and my lead foot is in full swing.
We were running a little bit late, so that only made me want to go even faster.
Well, wouldn't you know: We were behind a truck pulling a trailer the whole 20 minutes to our destination! (It felt a lot longer than that.
) While driving behind this truck and trailer I got to consciously make a choice: Did I want to be impatient and put more undue stress on the probably-already-nervous driver? Did I want to be uptight and get angry with the situation at hand even though it was something I couldn't control? Did I want to back off his tail and give him some space and alleviate his pressure to drive faster? Did I want to put myself in his shoes (as I was just there) and feel compassion and give him grace? I chose the last two.
You see, this is just a small example of how we can walk a mile in someone's shoes.
It was easier for me to relate to this because I had just been under the same stress only days earlier.
But we have the opportunity each and every day to put ourselves in another person's shoes.
We have the chance to see life as they do, to step into their journey and show compassion and patients, kindness, and love.
I say this is a small example, because there are so many other greater examples of people suffering and going through tough times and not feeling accepted and complete and understood...
those are the opportunities for us to shine and show what it means to be real and humane.
Part of "walking in another person's shoes" is to show empathy, love, and compassion towards their situation.
It doesn't mean that we can only relate if we have been through the same storm.
It just means that mentally and emotionally we can sympathize, help, love, and not judge or condemn.
Take Action: This week, let's be aware when we are judging and condemning another person.
Let's stop in our tracks and really try to walk a mile in their shoes.
We never know what journey has led them to where they are, and we certainly don't know where they are going...
but sometimes a little love, grace, and kindness can make all the difference in the world!
We all have done it, and it is so easy to judge, not knowing the circumstances or the history or the emotions behind what we are witnessing.
We make assumptions based on our past experiences and current moods, leaving compassion behind.
This usually happens because we are in a hurry, and we are more worried about our schedule rather than feelings and people.
We don't have time to waste on little inconveniences like people and the speed bumps they put before us.
It's easy to condemn when it is not us...
when it is someone else who is "in the way".
Sometimes we are not critical, but we just don't want to be bothered with their"baggage".
After all it's not our problem! We are too concerned with what's going on in our lives to take the time and show mercy and grace toward another.
Sound familiar? The other evening I was driving my gigantic SUV while towing a trailer which was carrying a golf cart at night traveling 200+ miles (Are you still with me?).
I feel like I am a good driver, and I can drive and park the heck out of my SUV...
and usually I have a pretty heavy foot.
Well, I don't see very well at night, and for me to be towing something, which I have only done a few times in my life, made me very uncomfortable...
especially when HUGE big rigs and motor homes were coming at me, separated by only a tiny white line.
Now I know what "white knuckling it" means.
One slip of the steering wheel or a slight serpentine of the trailer and it could have been disastrous! I was not holding up traffic by any means and I actually passed a few cars.
Yes, I was passed also...
but I was going above the speed limit...
just safely and at the speed I felt comfortable going.
So, I did not feel the added pressure of cars on my tail or being honked at or anything like that.
But, if I had those extra stresses, I would have been a real ball of nerves! Fast forward a few days.
We are safely home from our vacation and we are headed to a function at a friend's home.
I am driving my huge SUV, and I am not pulling a trailer...
hence...
I am comfortable, and my lead foot is in full swing.
We were running a little bit late, so that only made me want to go even faster.
Well, wouldn't you know: We were behind a truck pulling a trailer the whole 20 minutes to our destination! (It felt a lot longer than that.
) While driving behind this truck and trailer I got to consciously make a choice: Did I want to be impatient and put more undue stress on the probably-already-nervous driver? Did I want to be uptight and get angry with the situation at hand even though it was something I couldn't control? Did I want to back off his tail and give him some space and alleviate his pressure to drive faster? Did I want to put myself in his shoes (as I was just there) and feel compassion and give him grace? I chose the last two.
You see, this is just a small example of how we can walk a mile in someone's shoes.
It was easier for me to relate to this because I had just been under the same stress only days earlier.
But we have the opportunity each and every day to put ourselves in another person's shoes.
We have the chance to see life as they do, to step into their journey and show compassion and patients, kindness, and love.
I say this is a small example, because there are so many other greater examples of people suffering and going through tough times and not feeling accepted and complete and understood...
those are the opportunities for us to shine and show what it means to be real and humane.
Part of "walking in another person's shoes" is to show empathy, love, and compassion towards their situation.
It doesn't mean that we can only relate if we have been through the same storm.
It just means that mentally and emotionally we can sympathize, help, love, and not judge or condemn.
Take Action: This week, let's be aware when we are judging and condemning another person.
Let's stop in our tracks and really try to walk a mile in their shoes.
We never know what journey has led them to where they are, and we certainly don't know where they are going...
but sometimes a little love, grace, and kindness can make all the difference in the world!
Source...