January 8, 2017
Sometimes in life people have a tendency to be judgmental. Sometimes
we have a tendency to be arrogant. We sometimes have a tendency to think that
no one else is able to do something as well as we can. Sometimes this happens
in the home between husbands and wives. Sometimes it happens when you think
about children and how they are being raised. Sometimes it happens in the
workplace where you feel like you are the only one that does things correctly,
by the book, the safest way, the most efficient way, the best way, and the only
way. Sometimes it even happens when you think you could do someone else’s job
better than them.
I know we’ve all thought it especially me. If I’m being
honest I didn’t just think about it last week, but I posted about it on Facebook.
You know what thought I’m talking about…the how in the world can people who
perform so subpar keep their job. At face value it maybe doesn’t seem that bad.
Someone has a list of things you know they are supposed to do and they don’t do
them. Someone in customer service is supposed to helpful, friendly, and have
the attitude that the customer is always right, but they seem to have
everything else except those qualities. Maybe it’s your server who just can’t
seem to get your order correct or just can’t seem to keep up with all the
tables they are given. Maybe it’s your spouse who you think isn’t doing enough
around the house, with the kids, or their ability to clean. Maybe you subconsciously
feel that you aren’t perfect in your job and that since other people judge you
then you have the right to judge others.
It is true people don’t always do what they are supposed to
do or when they are supposed to do it. People don’t always do things the best,
most efficient, research proven, quality management proven way. People don’t
all perform the same way. People have different ideas on how to raise children,
clean dishes, wash laundry, answer the phone, send emails…whatever task you can
think of no two people will do it exactly the same. Maybe sometimes they don’t
know the best way or maybe the best way seems to confusing. Maybe your way of
doing things just doesn’t make sense in their mind and so they think your way
is wrong.
Regardless of the situation we don’t have the right to judge
other people. We don’t have right to belittle someone. We don’t have the right
to make someone feel inferior. I guess technically if you are in an authority
position then maybe you do, but that doesn’t mean you should.
In this world life is hard. Jobs are hard. Families can be
difficult. Home lives can be messy and painful. In this life it’s easy to be
misunderstood. It’s easy for people to pass judgment especially if it’s someone
that you don’t know, won’t see face to face or if you think they are inferior
to you. It’s easy to think you know everything that you’re better than everyone
else. It’s easy to make excuses for yourself, but call out anyone else’s
excuses as garbage.
So people may be wrong. They may be mean. They may be
hurtful, but that doesn’t mean you have to be too. Sometimes people are just
doing the best that they can in the situation that they are facing. You don’t
know their story. You don’t know all the stuff that they have piled on their
plate. You don’t know what they are going through at home. You don’t know what
they are going through at work. You really don’t know as much as you think you
do at all.
So instead of passing judgment, harsh words, negative
attitudes, or ultimatums try to add a little brightness to their day. Instead
of being rude and hateful for what they are doing wrong try to show a little
gratitude for what they are doing right. Instead of telling them that they are
inferior and aren’t doing it right try to see their side of the story and see
why they are doing it the way they are doing it.
If someone seems to be performing in a subpar way don’t
immediately think that they just must be bad at their job. They could be having
a bad day. They could be getting yelled at by other people. Their job could be
on the line. They could have outside
stressors that you don’t know about and that you can’t see. Of course, you aren’t
supposed to bring your baggage to work or your work baggage home, but that’s
not always possible. Sometimes in life it’s very difficult to separate work and
home. Sometimes life can have so much going on, situations that are so
demanding or depressing that you just can’t help, but think of them. Sometimes
people are at work not because they want to be, but because they have to be and
they are doing the best they can.
Sometimes family members are in the hospital and you have to
be at work because you can’t afford not to be. Sometimes kids are sick at home,
but that parent can’t afford to have the day off or maybe they will lose their
job if they called in. Sometimes as hard as you try to hide the pain, the
tears, the exhaustion, the despair, and the negative outlook on life you just
can’t do it. Sometimes it’s all you can do to get away from the table of
co-workers, get out of someone’s office, to step out the patient’s room or make
it to the bathroom before tears start rolling down your face or the anger just
completely bubbles up inside of you.
Situations happen. Life happens and bad things happen to
good people. Sometimes good people seem like bad people and bad people seem
like even worse people. Sometimes people know they are failing. Sometimes
people know they are about to drown and they don’t need you to tell them that,
but to throw them a life preserver. Sometimes people are truly drowning and yes
it might be important to get help, but you also have to jump in to save them.
Are you saving people or are pushing their head back under water when they are
coming up gasping for air?
Be the life vest. Be the person that helps someone up on
their feet when they have fallen. Be the person that shows a little mercy, a
little grace or a little compassion to someone even if they don’t deserve it.
Be the person that you would want someone to be towards you if you were
desperate, if you were drowning, if you were beaten up by life. Most people don’t
need anymore suck it up buttercup people in their lives. Most people need a
little light, a little help, a little love, a little support, and a whole lot
of forgiveness in this life.
Can you be that person? Can you be the person that blesses
someone even if that person just spit in your face. It’s not an easy task and
it’s not something that anyone really wants to do, but it’s what we were called
to do. It’s what Christians are supposed to be. We can’t lead someone to Christ
with the attitudes of the world. You lead someone to Christ, by being someone
that the world doesn’t understand. You love people to life and to Christ. Don’t
believe me? Look at Jesus, look at His life. He didn’t condemn the people who
wronged Him. He said forgive them Father for they know not what they do.
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