That’s Not My Experience

When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

Titus 3:4-5

Not too long ago I was privy to a conversation about a young woman known mutually in our family, whose recent life choices seemed like poor ones. Her choices to reconnect with a boyfriend who had previously abused her and to turn down a good job in her chosen career field left others wondering, What was she thinking? One woman in our family finally stated, “I just don’t understand how she makes these poor choices!”

But that’s when another woman reminded us all that this young woman had grown up in a chaotic and somewhat dysfunctional home, and that, to her, these choices might be seen as “normal,” no matter how unhealthy they appeared to the rest of us.

In that moment, I realized this young woman has had quite a different life experience than I have. And that conversation got me thinking about the compassion (or lack thereof) I show toward other people. It’s easy to think, especially if you grew up in a loving environment, that others should know how to make good or healthy choices in life, but that is simply not always the case. People, for better or worse, often follow similar paths to what they’ve experienced, because it’s what is familiar to them. And the truth is, even if you grow up in a healthy environment, you can still make poor choices in life.

The Bible reminds us that Christ revealed his kindness and love toward us, saving us, because of his mercy. He offers us new life, despite our poor choices. When we remember all that God has forgiven us for, it is easier to extend that same grace toward others. And who knows? Our kindness could be just what someone else needs to experience to help them make healthier choices in their own life or to remind them of how much God loves them.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Think about someone who has been making poor choices lately in life. Is there some way that you could pray for them and then offer them some encouragement on their journey?

From the book