“You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records?” Psalms 56:8 HCSB
Good morn, CompassionateOne,
I think Joseph must have been a an incredibly compassionate man – to take Mary as his wife, in spite of her condition. In spite of the wrath of his people, he surely endured – he answered to God alone in doing His will. Joseph did all he could to keep his family together. God knew his tears. And, Joseph trusted Him in spite of being alienated and shunned in the process.
Give this a thought before you jump out there in Christmas frenzy-land, listening and feeding off of getting hurt by the rants of others – just please reserve judgement. That’s not for you. Have compassion for everyone you meet. Place your pain at the foot of the cross and walk away.
What seems like conceit, bad manners, or cynicism, its always a sign no other eyes have seen, no ears have heard – you do not know what wars are going on down there, where their nature meets the bone.
He was rude.
She was cold and aloof.
He’s at the door – asking for a handout.
She lies.
She’s money hungry.
He’s grossly overweight.
They left without saying goodbye.
No one returned your call . . . you may never know the “why” behind someone’s less than ideal, ‘not the way I wish it was’ behavior, but here’s a curative for the sharp judgement that often accompanies our disappointment in others. . . just a single, surprisingly expansive phrase. . .
“you just never know”.
That’s it. God knows their wanderings, as He knows yours and mine.
You just never know.
Use the phrase before you jump to the conclusion that someone is a jerk, or that they need an attitude adjustment, or that they could be doing better than they are.
If you don’t understand, can’t comprehend, wonder what’s going on – there’s a reason for that . . . your Creator is pulling something deeper out of you, too.
This Christmas season, He is pulling a certain compassion out of you, too.
Wake up.
Seek compassion.
Go.
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