Wouldn’t it be simple if everyone in the world was just like you and me?
With the same tastes, the same motives and morals, the same way of looking at things?
It might be easier to love everyone if that was the case.
Sure, this might make life more simple, but it would also make it incredibly boring.
I love how God made us all unique, special and different.
I was at my son’s high school choir concert earlier this week, and as I was in the audience, God reminded me of just how unique He made each one of us. Even though the students were all dressed in the same concert attire, no two students on those risers looked the same.
We can find that with any crowd. No two people are the same. Even with identical twins, there are differences.
And personalities. No two people have the same personality.
We are all different.
We’ve already talked about loving those who are hard to love.
What about loving those who are different than us?
Those who act differently.
Those who believe differently.
Those who don’t share the same faith.
Those who live differently.
Those who live in a different social class.
Those who cheer for a different team.
Those who have different priorities, raise their children differently, have different dreams and goals than us.
How do we treat them? Do we love them?
In my past I have been guilty of unfairly judging a person without knowing him or her. Without understanding where he or she was coming from. Without “walking a mile in his or her shoes.” I made judgments that determined how I felt about that person, and how I treated him or her. How awful and terrible that was!
“Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.” -American Proverb
As I’ve gotten older, and as I’ve studied God’s Word, my eyes have been opened to the reality that even though God created us all different, in some ways we are all the same.
We all were created by God.
We all were created with a God-sized hole in our hearts that only He can fill.
We all were created to have a relationship with God.
We all desire to be loved.
God loves us all the same.
If God loves those different than us, the same as us, we should love them too.
My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. 1 John 4:11
Let’s begin look at those different than us in a different light. Let’s look at them in a way God would look at them. With acceptance. With kindness. With love.
Walk a mile in his shoes. (Or hers.)
More on this subject tomorrow.
Loving God and loving others with you,
Julie
It’s Day 17 of 31 Days of Loving God & Loving Others. It’s a joy to have you here! (Linking up with Inspire Me Mondays.)
The world would be a much better place if we spent less time judging and more time loving others!
Amen, Denise! Amen!! Bless you today!
I was led back to this post via Inspire Me Mondays! Guess I needed the reminder. 🙂
Honestly, I love the truth that is found in this post. We’re all unique, and the world is better because of it. And we need to think twice before judging others. We have no idea what they’re dealing with in this life.
My friend, Kelly, recently posted similar thoughts on her blog loving instead of judging.
I need the reminder too, Denise. So thankful you stopped in and so glad you shared! Have a great week!
A great reminder, Julie! Visiting from Inspire Me Mondays and glad I did. I think so often we make assumptions about people who are different because we think those differences mean we are fundamentally different, which just isn’t true!
I agree, Kirsten! You are so right. So glad we met through Inspire Me Mondays! Thank you for stopping in and sharing. Have a blessed day!
Julie – I love this. I teach high school and this is my constant refrain. We cannot know what is going on in another’s life. As we get to know people, we find out that every single person has their baggage or their issues, including me. If we just learn to accept each other as we are; it becomes much easier to love automatically. Yes, I preach that. Now, to live it! Wonderful thoughts and reminders here and I’m glad you linked up to Inspire Me Mondays.
Hi Carol! Thank you for your thoughts here. You are so right… each one of us has our own baggage or issues. Accept each other as we are. What a wonderful way to live! Thanks for the nudge to stay focused on doing that! Bless you!