Be kind. Give grace.

Have you ever had an interaction with someone that felt sterile or harsh and you wondered what was wrong with them? Why were they so snappy or impatient? Is it you?
And then you have a conversation with them, all to realize that they’re navigating something difficult or are on the receiving end of a circumstance they are desperately praying away.
And you realize…wait…what they are carrying feels heavy 😞 it makes a little more sense, right?

Or you see the curated version of someone’s life and how all the puzzle pieces seem to be fitting so easily together and you make false assumptions about their reality. You short circuit their courage and faith because you aren’t aware of the muck they had to walk through to CHOOSE gratitude upon seeing you or showing up.
Later, you discover that the picture perfect image you thought was their everyday story was their attempt to hold onto any level of normalcy they could feel. And that maybe, things just aren’t the way they seem.

I would bet, regardless of where you are or what you do or who you’re connected to or whatever your circumstances/season look like, you are surrounded by people who are going through things you know nothing about.
Because even when they have been vulnerable, there are deep-seated fears, wounds, and utterances that we ourselves can’t give breath to quite yet.
Everyone has their own version of deep waters; some more visible on the surface, and others able to hide a little easier behind the happenings of life. Not even because they want to, simply because life keeps going.

So…today, as you operate and interact and respond and engage with people who have beating hearts within them, it would be safe to assume that they need a touch of kindness, an offering of joy, and a dose of strength.
If every time we dig deeper, we discover there’s more than meets the surface and it’s more layered than we could’ve guessed, wouldn’t it be safe to assume that such is always the case?

You are more gentle with someone you know is bearing a heavy weight. Well, we all are in different ways, continually learning how to surrender and stay under the shadow of His wings.
Be gentle. And kind. Stay tender. For you + them 🤍