A friend called today to tell me some news.
"I spoke with someone today who had something nice to say about you and you will never guess who it was," she said.
"Well, who is it and what did they say?" I ask.
She told me who it was and let me know that this person had "confessed" that they had been wrong about me. "I was always so mean to her and didn't know why. She never did anything to me personally. I was just forming my opinions based on what someone else had told me."
You see, I knew I had never done anything to this person. She based her opinion of me solely on someone else's untruthful and negative comments.
I was glad to hear that this person no longer disliked me. I am sad to think of all the years (yes, years) I have missed getting to know this person who could have potentially been a very close friend.
I started to think about my own attitude towards people. I have been there before, that person who's made a false judgement about someone based on what other people might have said about them. And you know what? After getting to know the individual, my opinion turned out to be totally different than my friend's. Sometimes, it would be the same...I mean, some people are just plain weird! Just kidding!
I believe some individuals base their opinions, dislikes, or negative comments of someone on the insecurities, shortcomings, unhappiness, or failures in their own lives. They look for any little fault in someone to make themselves feel better and take the focus off of their own issues. I pray for these people.
I have become more conscious about forming opinions or stereotyping before I get to know someone. We are all such unique individuals created by God. Just think how boring this world would be if we were all the same!
Several friends (and family members) will do or say some things that just drive me nuts....but guess what? I love them anyway. Our strengths and weaknesses as individuals makes us who we are as friends. I love each and every one of them dearly and are so thankful they are in my life.
"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17
At all times. Not just when things are going good. Even when they are getting on our last nerve! A true friend loves at all times.
Have you been a good friend lately?
3 comments:
I've been told that I take a while to grow on people. All that did was make me more self-conscious when I meet people, because I'm thinking, "What kind of first impression am I making?"
Really? I didn't think that at all! I am very quiet/shy until I get to know someone. I suppose that can come across several different ways.
I think sometimes I come across as snobby in the beginning, because I'm usually fairly quiet until people get to know me. I try to be a good friend...and open to meeting new ones as well!
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