Several years ago, I took a young man swimming at our local YMCA just about every Saturday morning as part of his community-based instruction program. One of the lifeguards (Joe) befriended us and would talk with us frequently when we arrived at the pool. We would have lots of talks and cover a lot of ground it seemed. Towards the end of our “world problem solving sessions,” Joe would usually stop and stare off towards the windows. He would then turn back to me and say, “You know Allen, we’re all doing the best we can.”
Looking back on those conversations along with our ability to attempt to address the issues of humanity on the side of pool deck, I realized I should ease up and not be so critical of others. I have been guilty of quickly assuming the worst of a situation or not giving someone the benefit of the doubt. When this occurred, I found myself not being considerate, jumping to conclusions, and not demonstrating empathy. When this occurred, it seemed I created barriers to relationships or situations that I knew very little about or not as much as I thought I knew.
Are we thankful God views us differently than we may view one another in challenging situations? Lamentations 3:22-24 says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, therefore I hope in Him.” God understands us and allows us to start new each day. When we find ourselves in conflict with others, may we listen and strive to understand. Let’s do our best and assume others are as well.
