Can I step into your shoes please?

It is so easy to look from afar at others’ lives, and feel we are well informed to make a judgment; make a statement; make a determination about how they live or should live.

The other day I was having a conversation with my daughter. Her school is such that two different strains of academia are flowing through the school. Those doing the normal school curriculum and the International Baccalaureate program – the curriculum for this program is more challenging though the rewards are great.

My daughter at times overhears conversations from students going through either strain of academia. The ones in the IB strain would talk about those in the normal strain and vice versa. What she noticed was that neither understood each others’ lives; though in same school – they had stark different life experiences. Some would be picked up by parents, go for an after school sport event, or even have a tutor come home to give them an extra boost in that subject they need help with. On the other hand, others would get home, scrape through the cupboard, get something to eat and then start another toil: a job from 5pm thru to 10pm. They will slug it out at a grocery store or burger joint to get that extra money they sorely need which a mom or dad simply does not have to give. They are so tired by the time they get home; they do the minimum. Not that they might not want to do the extra, but life seems to have taken that extra energy from them. There is no extra tutoring; there is no one to pick them from school; there is no extra much! Just them getting by with the love they surely get from their family members – but at times love carries you so far – and then you need a new pair of jeans, and new shoes, and a new dress; and there is prom, and maybe those peers who seem to have what they need.

It is a hard life for the older folk too, thinking of their health, finances etc. My husband and I were at a restaurant yesterday for his birthday. Nothing special, just breakfast. But we ran into a dear lady we know waiting on the tables. She must be 75 years old. She later came to us and asked us to pray for her. ‘My husband works $10 an hour. I work $10 an hour. Our son who has two degrees works $10 an hour. Pray for us. There is something wrong with our picture. We cannot retire.’ I could not look from afar and understand their lives; but you know what, I appreciate their lives. We held hands and prayed for her family. We trust God for His faithfulness. He is faithful.

And so don’t try to judge others, since you have not lived their lives. And without living it, it is impossible to understand it. Without being down to your last dollar, you won’t be able to understand what it means to have two kids and have only ten dollars to your name. What a bum life can be at times. But with your kind words and thoughts, your words can be like balm to those whose shoes you have not worn and who might be going through a harder time that you are.

Linda Faith
Linda faith is the Editor in Chief of Jewels Magazine. She has authored eight books. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk. She was a software developer before she started writing.