We all know people who are laid back, others are wrapped tighter than a spring, and then there are those who simply show very little emotion, but down deep are just waiting to explode. There are things that will set people off, while some simply are not even aware of what is going on around them. Where we as humans make the mistake is when we look at someone's reaction and automatically comes to our own conclusions without really looking at why someone may react in the way they react.
Each of us live very different lives, and with each experience learn different things. What I see so often is that knee jerk reaction to immediately judge someone base on how they may handle situations. This is wrong on so many different levels. The old saying is never judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. This is great advice, and yet so few seem to follow it as they feel entitled to judging someone without really knowing the full story.
Why am I bringing this up today? We have to get to the point in our life where we observe and fight the urge to respond. I'm not saying that you can't ever have a response, but let's be real for a moment and acknowledge that there are many people, some who you know, that will fly off the handle at the smallest things without the benefit of knowing the entire situation. People react in different ways for different reasons. We may not always agree, but once again, how you act at times people may not agree with either. When I was in the Air Force I worked for the Strategic Air Command, and we had a saying "To Error is human, to forgive is not SAC's Policy". We would laugh about this but there was a slight truth to this. Not so much that we shouldn't forgive, but that there are those who find it impossible to forgive. In my estimation never a good place to be. We might not always agree with how someone reacts to a particular situation, but once again, put yourself in their shoes. Instead of flying off the handle take a few minutes and maybe think about what they may be going through, and how what they are going through may in fact be part of the reason they react the way they do. In certain cases an ounce of prevention is worth that pound of cure.
I think we can all agree that there have been times when each of us have flown off the handle. Little things can set us off, but the thing we have to do is come to a determination as to what the cause of us flying off the handle is. At times the tiniest of things can set us off, and on the flip side it often takes a ton of things to get us to go into launch mode. No matter the circumstances we ultimately control how we react to certain things, and those reactions are directly correlated to what we might be going through at that particular moment. I just think that there are times when we need to extend grace to others if for not other reason than we need that same grace extended to us. Operating with grace, understanding, and forgiveness is really the only way we should be operating.
What is temperament? Is temperament based on environment? Is it based on historical events? Is it based on our own DNA? I could certainly give the clinical definition of it, but in the total scheme of things, temperament is just you. It is based on what you have experienced, the good and the bad. Since we all go through different things in life, we all have a different style of dealing with issues. Since we are all different then it only makes sense that we will deal with issues differently than others. If we are truly being honest do you really want to be judged for how you handle situations by those who have no idea what your life has been like, or what you have gone through? Judging someone based on your observations is so wrong. There have been plenty of times in my life when I have misjudged someone and later on had to ask for forgiveness. That I can tell you is a humbling experience. Suffice it to say being wrong in your judgment of others only has to happen a few times before you learn not to do it.
As I said earlier, we need to extend grace to others. We need to understand that things happen, people react, and we need to know there is always a reason for their reactions. Only a fool thinks they know it all, but sadly there are fools all around. My observation of others is simply that, an observation, and not every observation demands a comment. There are times when we see something that we are better just to sit on it and make no comment. Truth be told there are plenty of people who will jump at the chance to jump on someone for something they said, or because of their actions, and maybe just maybe we should wait until we strike. I don't know of the pain one might be going through, and without that knowledge any action I take in retaliation for someone's action is speculative at best.
People are hurting right now and the last thing they need is someone with a holier than thou attitude jumping all over them because they reacted a certain way. I know it may seem like I am standing on my soapbox, but when are we going to realize that people are human? I have no right to judge someone else. My choice is always mine to make, and I choose to operate in forgiveness, in grace, and in doing so allow others to know that no matter what, I accept them. So many are quick to judge without having the full story, without knowing the real reasons for something, without grasping that people handle situations differently. Once again, put yourself in their shoes. You might discover that your reaction is the same as their reaction.
I see name calling going on. I see accusations being flung about like confetti in a Fifth Avenue Parade. Why? The day will come when someone calls you out for your actions, how will you react? You might be completely justified in what you did, what you said, how you acted, and yet someone will judge you based on it. How's that going to make you feel? What's good for the Goose is good for the Gander, unless of course you're on the other side of the equation. The time has come to see things the way your Creator sees things. We must extend grace and understanding. When the world can begin to operate in this fashion then we will see much less conflict, and I can only assume that less conflict will undoubtedly bring about more peace and tranquility. Time for you to choose, and it is my hope that you choose wisely. I leave you peace, love, joy, happiness, and a earnest hope that you will see things differently than you may have seen them in the past.
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