Trying Walking a Mile in Someone Else's Shoes by Jacqueline D. Moore

You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. ~ Nelle Harper Lee

Scripture:

If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.  Matthew 5:41-42 NIV

Very often we are quick to criticize others based on our own opinions and positions in life.  We think nothing of judging the conditions of others centered on what our life experiences have shown us.  We will shake our heads in disapproval if others do not conform to our standards and beliefs.  We will quickly dismiss those who find themselves in situations and circumstances we find appalling because of the hand that life has dealt them.  We tend to forget that many of us are only where we are because of whose we are and but for the grace of God go you or I.

Years ago when I first started my writing journey, I wrote a short story called Death at a Church.  It was about a young prostitute who worked the corner near a church.  Even though she didn’t know anything about God, there was something about the beautiful church, the beautiful sounds emanating from it and its beautiful people that fascinated her.

One day, she gathers enough courage to put on her best and enter through its beautiful doors.  Once inside, she almost loses her courage because of how she is treated by those beautiful church folk.  Many of them recognized her by her profession without knowing her story or that her choice of profession had never been her choice to make but rather a choice made by someone else.  If those good folks had been given the same cross to bear, would they be as strong?

Remember, When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father, we come to You this day asking forgiveness for the words spoken against another because of what we think they are. Help us Lord, to see other as You see us. Help us Lord to look beyond a person’s appearance and see into their hearts. Help us Lord, to show forgiveness towards those who have caused us such sorrow and heartache. Help us Lord to rebuke those who seek to destroy us. Teach us this day to have a forgiving spirit towards those who have misused us. Father, help us to see others in the same way You see us. With the eyes of Love. With a spirit of forgiveness, and with an open mind so that we may come to understand those who seem strange to us. Father, I am asking once again that You touch those saints who have asked for prayer for whatever situation they may be faced with. Father, our prayers are not complete until we tell You just how much we love You. We thank You Lord, for Your forgiveness of our sins and for looking beyond our faults. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Footnote:

If anyone is interested in reading Death at a Church to see how my character triumphs in this moving story and others just as encouraging you can Order a copy of the Triumph of my Soul anthology at: http://peaceinthestormpublishing.com/home/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=13  or at: http://amazon.com and http://barnesandnoble.com