Let's give each other a break.

Tonight I discovered a hidden truth in my heart.

I long to be understood.

Hope, my middle girly, she is so often misunderstood.

Maybe it’s because she all to often just can’t “get out” what she’s trying to say. Maybe it’s because her vocabulary is not extensive enough to express herself in the elaborate way she would like to. Or maybe it’s because she’s just not one I can understand?

For example:

“Mommy, you know that thing….That thing on top of that blue thing?…I..I need it…but I need you to get it down…because I’m not, you know..”

She expresses herself in a way that makes sense to her, but all to often no one else can figure out a thing that child is saying!

Have you ever felt that way?

Like you needed to justify an action, or give an explanation, or excuse yourself for this or that……all be “understood”, but in fact no one could figure out what you were trying to say exactly.

Do you feel that way reading this post right now? =)

I once went through a situation where I felt like the other person was “overly” trying to justify their actions with their words. Knowing in my soul that what had happened was not right and that I wouldn’t waver in my thinking, the words that fell from their mouth seemed almost…sickening.

Keeping the golden rule in the back of my mind always, “Do unto other’s as you would want them to do unto you”…I justified my thinking that this person was indeed wrong and even went as far as to line it up with scripture.

However,

Tonight at bible study we began to look at two other characters in the Behind Those Eyes bible study:

Ms. Confidence and Ms. Happiness

Two of which I could painstakingly identify with. I won’t go so far as to write out these characteristics in detail of my life, but trust me, they exist too. They sit right next to Ms. Perfection.

I have always been a very compassionate person, able to look through other’s eyes and think what it’s like to walk in their shoes….maybe because I’ve walked down a road where I have been judged, looked down upon and thought of as “Oh my goodness”. I too have been misunderstood many times. But understanding why people do the things they do….sometimes this is difficult.

Because can’t we all just get along?

In Ms. Perfection’s world….no way! But in Ms. Happiness’s world???

Maybe not either.

Why? Because Ms.Happiness doesn’t like being around people who sink her boat!

I’ve learned one thing in this life I’ve lived so far….There’s always an explanation. Always.

Whether it’s one we want to hear or not…now that’s another story!

Jealousy, Pride, Envy, Hate, Fear, Weakness, Loneliness, Sadness and even Rejection. Just a rambling off the top of my head list of explanations of why we act the way we do.

But the truth is…….all we really want is to be understood. By someone. Anyone!

And instead what we get is typically a snotty nosed judgement cast upon us.

Ms. Perfection, Ms. Confidence and Ms.Happiness……they are all to well known to walk down the road pridefully but sassy-like, proclaiming, “Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.” (all the while why waving their finger in your face too)

But if we could just for one moment….look behind someones eyes, and wonder what is really going on in there. Maybe we would have more compassion for others. Maybe we would really start to develop some deep relationships.

Maybe…..just maybe, we would actually start to become someone real.

I am so thankful that the Lord does not look at me with the same standards that I all to often look at other’s with. I am so thankful that my God does show me that being vulnerable is scary, but also so rewarding. I am so thankful that I know I need God more than anything in this world, but that I also know that he has put me here to have relationships and to effect people, not to just be a bump on a log or a hermit.

Grace. It’s a huge thing. And how amazing life will be if we will just sprinkle a little more of it around!

Oh my thoughts could go on and on about this. But I would love to hear from you. This blog, yes, it’s about me being me, but I also love to hear how God speaks to you! Do you need to give someone a break?

I know I do……and they are three girly’s who are fast asleep….but boy oh boy can they make some messes. =) (baby steps, Nicki, baby steps)