06/16/2026
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." — Ephesians 4:32
One of the easiest things to do is make assumptions about people. We see a rude customer, a distracted waitress, a driver who cuts us off in traffic, or a coworker who seems short-tempered, and our first reaction is often frustration. We judge the action without knowing the story.
But what if there is more to the story than what we can see?
The driver who hurried into your lane may be rushing to the hospital after receiving devastating news. The waitress who forgot your order may be carrying the weight of a sick child at home while working extra shifts to keep the lights on. The cashier who seems distant may have spent the morning grieving the loss of a loved one. We simply don't know.
Jesus reminds us of this truth in Matthew 7:1: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." He understood that human beings rarely see the whole picture. We see moments; God sees hearts.
At the Mission, we often lead people through a poverty simulation called "In Their Shoes." Participants quickly discover how difficult it is to navigate life when every decision is shaped by limited resources, unexpected crises, and overwhelming stress. By the end, many realize that what they once viewed as poor choices were often the result of impossible circumstances.
The truth is that we don't need a simulation to practice empathy. Every day gives us opportunities to walk through life with the mindset of "In Their Shoes." Every person we encounter is carrying something we cannot see.
We cannot always control what others do. But we can control our response.
Grace is often a gift that costs us very little but means everything to someone else.
A smile. A kind word. A compliment. A moment of patience. A willingness to assume the best instead of the worst. For all we know, your kindness may be the only kindness someone experiences that day.
