We Just Don’t Know from the Outside

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I have a story for you this morning, but first I’d like to share with you the beautiful full moon over Gainesboro that we saw last night.

 

Yesterday, Ray and I did a couple of errands. While he waited for our sandwich order at one business, I walked down to the grocery store. I was purseless, so when I finished my shopping, I stood waiting for Ray to finish his errand and come inside for me to check out. As I stood waiting, an older gentleman walked by me and said, “I’m not drunk. I’m off-balance.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Don’t fall.”

“If I wasn’t careful, I’d fall all the time,” he said. “I’m taking balance classes. I hope it helps. I was up in Livingston one time. I was staggering and police were right there.”

“But they didn’t bother you?” I asked.

“No,” he replied. “I quit that drinking a long time ago.”

“We just don’t know from the outside, do we?” I said, meaning that we can’t always see the truth about other people simply by looking on from the outside.

He smiled and said, “Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. It means a lot.”

“Thank you for talking to me,” I said. “It means a lot to me.”

The man walked away. I waited for Ray, and we were soon checking out our groceries.

It’s true, you know. We just don’t know from the outside what other people feel or what they need. We don’t know their rejoicings or their pains. Only God sees us clearly. Only He sees others clearly. Praise Him because He loves all of us anyway.

God is kind to give us other people who do let us inside. We learn a lot that way.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ,
if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit,
if any affection and compassion,  
make my joy complete by being of the same mind,
maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.  
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility consider one another
as more important than yourselves;  
do not merely look out for your own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others. 
Philippians 2:1-4

 

 

 

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