You can't beat a morning at the beach, when you can just sit outside on the balcony and take everything in. As I sat watching the waves crash onto the shore, I began noticing how many footprints were in the sand. I began thinking how every footprint on the beach belongs to a different person. As I sat a little bit longer, I began realizing that every footprint tells a story, just as every person has a story to tell. So as I sat there drinking my coffee and admiring God's beauty, thoughts began running through my head. Below, I have 3 thoughts that would not stop running through my mind.
First thought: often we get so caught up in our own lives that we don't even realize that every person we meet has a story to tell. Some people that we come in contact with may even be fighting a battle. It may not be visible, but there is a battle going on within everyone's lives. Some may be fighting a hard battle emotionally, while others may be physically fighting a hard battle. People often do a good job hiding what they are fighting because they don't want to show a sign of weakness. For some, pride kicks in, telling them that they have to be strong, that they can't show that they are hurting. Types of battles may include cancer, a tour in Iraq, a miscarriage, depression, death of a loved one, divorce. Whatever the battle may be, if you fought for it, you are a hero in my book. Even if you lost the battle, it does not mean that you are weak or a failure. The fact that you fought during the battle shows that you are strong. Some battles are completely out of our hands and we just have to turn them over to God.
Second thought: have you ever just assumed something about a person before you even met them? When you see them, you just automatically assume something negative about them? Everyone knows the old saying: "You never judge a book by its cover." However, so often we still catch ourselves doing that. I know that I am guilty of it, but we never know what someone is going through. So, next time you catch yourself judging someone that you've never met, think about what their story may be. You never know if the person you just came in contact with was homeless, was a recovering addict, just lost a loved one or was suffering from depression.
Third thought: everyone has enough of their own faults and failures to deal with without judging someone else's. "Judging on incomplete information is counterproductive—and sometimes worse. Before we make a move, we should make certain we have enough information. If circumstances force us to move without all the details, we should be humble, open to correction, and ready to change our opinion." - Michael Hyatt
So remember, just as there are billions of footprints scattered through the sand there are billions of people on this earth. Each footprint tells a story that may be unknown just as every person has a story that is unknown.
