Sometimes as humans we assume. We assume that we know everything about everybody, or that we know enough to come to our own conclusions on how we should treat them. I am not saying to be unwise on how we interact with others or to not have healthy boundaries. Those are essential and very important to have. However, I am saying not to judge people and be unkind to them, off what we think we know. If you’re like me and most people, you probably have at one time or another been misjudged and treated unfairly at one point in your life. It hurts and can be discouraging. In turn, we ourselves, have probably done this to someone at one point too. Maybe we didn’t take the time to fully know someone, we made a quick assumption based off of a moments impression or we got a little one-sided for whatever reason. The Bible instructs us to be kind and filled with compassion and a forgiving heart. In the Bible, the second greatest commandment is for us to love one another. Though are we truly doing this, consistently? Something I have told my children is we don’t have to be everyone’s friend, but we do have to be kind. We don’t have to agree with everybody and we can lovingly disagree. Though to assume someone’s value off of our own perception, is not our place. Have established healthy boundaries. Use wisdom and God’s guidance and His instruction. Even when it may not seem easy, we must place compassion however in the place of assumption. In the process live a life filled with compassion, kindness and love.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Kind and compassionate

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Matthew 22:37-40 NIV

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ‘This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”