A few months ago, I was at Del Taco for lunch with Jason. Across the restaurant was a mother with three boys who were being rowdy (as boys are). Two of them began to throw huge temper tantrums that lasted for sometime. The mother was obviously frazzled, and was receiving many awful looks from the customers in the establishment. As we were getting ready to leave, I walked over to her booth and gave her some encouraging words, telling her to hang in there. She told me thank you for the kind words and then began telling me how her husband had passed away a few months ago and she just needed to get out of the house. I shared with her how I understood how hard it is to raise young ones, especially boys, and I would keep her in my prayers.

The experience spoke volumes in my life! Where others saw a mother who needed to control her children and looked upon her disapprovingly, I saw the young mom through much different eyes. I saw a mom who just needed someone to understand (and trust me, I have been there!). I saw a mom who just needed someone to tell her that it was going to be ok. And I saw a mom who just needed to be showered with grace and love and kindness, not judgment.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
You never know what is going on in someone’s life. You never know the pain and the burdens that they are carrying. You never know what a word of kindness or an act of compassion might do in their lives. Wouldn’t this world be an amazing place to live in if we saw each other through the eyes of God, who loves us unconditionally and wants us to know His love, peace and joy? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be God’s hands here on earth and share that love with everyone? How different would our world look?