It’s Not You

It’s Not You

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

I was recently talking with a friend about a mutual acquaintance. My friend used to wonder if this other woman liked her, because sometimes the other woman would greet her and be friendly, and other times she would almost seem to ignore her altogether.

My friend wondered if she had said or done something to upset this woman, until one day she noticed several posts in the other woman’s social media feed about managing anxiety and how challenging it is for her at times. My friend’s understanding of this woman changed after she saw her posts, and now when the other woman doesn’t respond, she doesn’t take it personally and instead feels compassion for her. She told me that now she just thinks, Maybe her anxiety is getting the best of her today, and continues to show kindness and extend friendship to the woman regardless of how she is treated in return.

My dad used to always say to treat others kindly because you never know what they may be dealing with that you cannot see. These words came back to me as my friend shared her situation. I said she was wise to consider the other woman’s situation before she rushed to make a judgment about her and treat her unfairly based on that judgment.

We can so easily take up an offense against someone for behavior that may or may not actually have anything to do with us. Oftentimes people have struggles in their own lives that we know nothing about. We can be compassionate, even when we do not understand the full backstory to someone else’s life, because God is compassionate to us.

— Kendra

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

The next time someone appears to slight you, consider what may be affecting them behind the scenes and choose to show them kindness and be friendly to them anyway.