SITTING ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN.......

She was beautiful, gorgeous....not exactly what I would consider to be “model beautiful”, no it was more than that – soft, attractive, tanzanite blue eyes.  Every man in the room could not help but stare and silently wish that she could be his.  I, myself could not help but stare and silently wish....silently wish that I could be as beautiful as her.

They were an amazing family.  Happy people.  Wherever they went you could hear shrieks of laughter.  Fun and love were always the order of the day.  Oh and let me not forget to mention that they were a wealthy family.  When I say wealthy, I mean “beeeeeg bucks”.  Influential people....and yet such amazingly, “nice” people.  I wish I could’ve been born into their family.

He was successful in business.  Mr Confidence who could close any deal.  I am quite certain that he could sell a sole-less pair of shoes for the price of a house.  If only I could do business that way.  If only I could be him.

Sitting on the outside looking in, these are the type of thoughts which have gone through my mind on so many occasions.  We all do that, don’t we??  Meet people and wish we could have their lives...their beauty, their love, their money......

But how many times have you hung around and watched their story unfold??  “Never judge a book by its’ cover” , we are told.  I prefer the saying about “assumptions”......”Assumptions are the mother of all (let’s be polite and say) muck ups”.   I can count on my hand how many sayings are really and truly appropriate, but this one, this one rings true and somehow manages to teach me a lesson every time.

You see, because she was so beautiful, she not only attracted the “yummy” men, she also attracted the scum bags and has lived a life filled with both sexual and physical abuse.  Her story is very, very sad.

The “happy” family who has everything, also has a child who is in and out of jail and causes them many heartaches and sleepless nights.

.....and Mr Confidence, well in business he has it all, but personally he has no love.  He has no relationship with his parents.  His closest family and friends are his business associates.  They care deeply for him, but let’s face it out of business hours they go back to their families and leave him on his own.

Just yesterday a friend and I were chatting about the story of laying down your cross.  If everyone laid down their cross – all their heartaches and problems – in one big pile, would you take someone else’s, or would you take back you own??

Everyone deserves a chance.  Everyone has good in them....and yes, everyone has bad in them.  I guess what I am really trying to say, the next time you are sitting on the outside looking in, don’t give assumptions a chance ......take the time to get to know someone and have compassion for whatever it is that they are going through.