Perspective

By Gail Purath (view her blog here)

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sypathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these."*

George Washington Carver (1864-1943)

African-American inventor and educator

Image from reusableart.com

We cannot fully understand the difficulties of others unless we experience those same difficulties ourselves. But kindness involves trying to understand others and giving them the benefit of the doubt.

The young may envy the free time of retired people; retired people may envy the health and energy of the young. It's easy to see things from our perspective, much harder to see things from others' perspectives.

"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." 1 Thessalonians 5:14

If you're having difficulties with someone, ask God if there's something lacking in your perspective.

*Site: About.com

url: http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventors/ss/Carver_pictures_3.htm

About Gail Purath:

Gail Purath has been married to her best friend for 41 years, has two married children and seven grandchildren. Her blog, Bible Love Notes (http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/) features one-minutes devotions each weekday.