Yesterday, as I read from my blog roll, I clicked on Truthful Tidbits. The author, Linda Hogeland penned a beautiful, thought-provoking poem about how we shouldn’t be so quick to judge others, a common mistake everyone is guilty of at some point.
Allow me to share with you these words….Walk a Mile in My Shoes by Linda Hogeland (c) June 2011
Some people say…walk a mile in my shoes… before you judge me today
And before that walk you take in my shoes…please take a moment to pray
Before you reach out…to remove the small speck… that you see so clearly in mine…
Ask the Lord to help you… remove the big plank… that distorts your vision sometimes
As you walk in my shoes, and the obstacles fall, across your path at every turn
Take a moment to pray for some grace in your day…use it as an opportunity to learn
Learn to be thankful for all that you have… and don’t covet what I might obtain
For the grass is not greener on this side of the fence…and my life has often held pain
If you jog… don’t get blisters…cuz my shoes are quite small, and I can’t afford to buy new
You may wish that you had not walked in my shoes at all…but the ones that fit better on you
And if I’d turn it around, it might just be found, that your shoes would be hard to fit too
So the mile that we walk, let’s take time for a talk, and be friends and decide what to do
Life is harder than it seems… and we all lose our dreams… and a shoulder to lean on is nice
So next time you hear, “walk a mile in my shoes”…may I give you a little advice?
Have compassion and care…take the time just to share, and to listen to what others say
But first and foremost…don’t ever boast…there’s plenty more trials on the way
Yes, we all need to care…when we see such despair and we need to help where we can
There once was a King who walked under a cross…shouldering that burden for man
He took our place upon that old rugged cross as He hung there in sorrow and pain
Yes He died in our place for our sins and disgrace so that we could be free from the shame
Talk about walking a mile in our shoes…He forged on to Golgotha for me
And for us He endured all the things that He heard as they mocked Him as He hung on that tree
What a blessing it is that He walked in our shoes to the death that we all so deserved
From now on I will talk of that life giving walk…and try not to be so reserved
Lord…may I walk in their shoes… and give them Good News… that you lovingly gave to me
And like you… may I give of myself everyday…to all the burdened people I see!
Each Thursday, I participate in Amanda’s weekly meme, Thursday Two Questions. if you wish to play along, then click her button to the left to be directed to her site. This is a fun way to gain a bit of insight on one another.
My T2Q are inspired by Linda’s poem.
1. When was the last time you made an assumption about another person – good or bad? This is really difficult for me to say. I mean all of my time is spent at home. For me, I can’t draw the same comparison with peoples’ affairs like I could when I worked, but I know too many times, I’ve jumped to the wrong conclusion regarding my children. You know, things look a certain way and it’s not that way at all, but I don’t find out the truth until I play 20 questions. I shouldn’t be so quick to cast that first stone.(John 8:7)
2. Do you ever wish you could change shoes with another person for a day? If so, who would it be with? This may sound totally odd, but I cannot think of a single person who I would be interested in switching places with, even for a day. I realize the elite in our society has problems like the rest of us. In fact, I dare say in many cases their situations are more difficult than what we have going on in our own life. Money…fame, yeah it’s nice sounding, but prefer my quiet, less complicated life over a high profile, stress induced chaos.
In closing one thing comes to mind when I think of walking in someone’s shoes. Can you imagine what it was like for Mary, the mother of Jesus? The stares and talk must have been horrible, yet there is no record in the Bible of Mary being anything other than honored and humbled by God’s calling.
I stumbled upon this song and I like the lyrics a lot. I hope you enjoy it, too.
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They say the older you get the wiser. It’s true in many ways but it also depends on what you are learning and spending your energy on.
The great thing is that you are trying. But as it is, the battle of the heart and body is constant and sometimes the little losses help us to learn.
I’m just now able to ask myself, why is the other person acting this way etc. Because I know I behave a certain way in certain circumstances but no one will know it and might not know they are walking into explosive mind battles.
So we are learning and growing…..
*hugs*
Aloha
Colette SFind me here:
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This is a beautiful post.
I was actually judging this evening. But I’m also noting that maybe I’m just wrong and the problem is me.
2. If I could switch shoes, I think I’d take my husband’s just to know how much he loves me
Aloha!
@Jamericanspice:disqus I find the problem lies with me often times, too. I need access my mental composition, if it’s not the best then I try to re-evaluate things at a later time. Sometimes that is all it takes – to clear my mind, but unfortunately more times than not, I’m not as forgiving as I should be. I will heed Linda’s poem and make an effort to not judge without thinking, “What’s going on with that person to make them act this way?”
@40b4ab101503ca8b8d959d2e37d6abad:disqus What a good attitude to have. I tend to do this more easily with people in passing, but if it comes from someone I know then emotions are hurt easier and as I said, I often times feel ashamed of myself later on down the road.
@9237ddd22bdc216869edb41c8482966f Thanks for the use of your photo. We would all be humbled, if in fact, we actually walked in another’s shoes for a hour, a day, a week, or…a lifetime. Nothing appears as it truly is. Often times, I do not find out circumstances surrounding why someone behaves the way they do until months and even years later, then the light goes on and ever thing makes sense. I feel ashamed because I remembered how I felt at the time and I had judge that person harshly.
@f730edd6a69ca4efcd4aef3b6b40f117:disqus Now that’s a rarity for someone to jump to something positive about a person instead of the negative. My husband is better than I am about cutting someone slack. He tends to side on the conservative side by saying something positive about a person. I’m like, “What?… You’re just way too sweet.” =D
You are right, that is a very thought provoking poem.
I tend to go the other way when jumping to those conclusions, I always see good in a person. Sometimes that is not the case however.
I can’t think of anyone either, I’m perfectly happy in my own shoes.
Oh how I love this topic! Maybe that’s why I took that photo?
I love the poem and so true. My life has turned upside down in the past few years and I’ve experienced things I never imagined I’d have to. It’s caused me to better understand people and things I wouldn’t have been able to get in the past.
Thanks for the mention and I will be following you now.
blessings and love,
Debbie
Good thing I don’t normally sweat over small stuff. So I chalked them up with respect that everyone is an individual. Many times we are busy, and in a hurry, sometimes people just have a bad day. I am generally content with people that I associate with.
The poem is fantastic, I enjoyed reading it very much. Thanks for sharing.
You know, I could think of a few people who’s shoes I would like to be in, but not just for the day. If I do wear them, I rather start from the beginning so that I could understand how I got there. And be that person fully. So as for the day, I don’t have anyone in mind.
Linda You’re right, we certainly need to show compassion and empathy for those in troubling circumstances. I like praying for those in need, too. Perhaps, we should walk in someone else’s shoes more often and then we’d be less likely to judge another. I shall have to hold this truth close to my heart the next time those human tendencies kick in to place shame or blame without first asking, What’s beneath the surface? Thanks for sharing your lovely poem with me.
I liked the questions you added to this post. I am quite content to walk in my shoes and live my life without wishing to be in another person’s shoes. However, it is good to think about what other people face in their lives, and to have compassion. I love to pray for people and for their needs.
Have a blessed day Cathy!