Seeing the world through others eyes



I watched this video the other day and it really stirred something in me. Honestly this stirring happened for me almost 7 years ago...you see I was going through one of the hardest trials of my life...my marriage to my then "middle school sweet heart" was coming to an excruciatingly painful end.

Over time lie, after lie, after lie was being uncovered for me and to say my heart was shattered at the time would be an understatement...the thing was, I was walking around devestated for weeks on end before anyone knew a thing...I carried on as a new nurse, did my job well, carried a smile on my face, cared for my patients like they were my family, all with the weight of the world on my shoulders.

When I finally was able to swallow my pride and share what I was going through people began to say, "What?! I had no idea, you seem to be doing so well!" So from the outside I was doing very well...you see I'm a HUGE people pleaser and didn't want to make anyone else suffer or be mistreated just because of the pain I was going through...unless you've personally been through something I don't think you can truly sympathize with people that have. It really is hard to understand the pain others feel until you've walked it yourself.

 Anyways, during that time I learned to really try to see the world through other peoples eyes...when the cashier at Target is rude or short...I would pray for them knowing that I have NO clue what their life looks like at that moment outside of my small encounter with them. I feel this way about every encounter with people....waiter, cashier, patient, parent, friend, colleague. Even if you know they are going through a difficult time you don't know where their heart is or what that pain feels like to them. When you are driving down the highway and someone is driving too slow or cuts you off and you begin steaming, remember you have NO idea what could possibly be going on in that person's life.

...you see twice in my life I have recieved horrific news while driving...the day my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer Dennis and I were driving back up to the hospital from taking care of the dogs when we got the most gut wrenching phone call from my poor father who was alone at the hospital when the news came...we had all been there ALL day and the 10 minutes he was alone was when he recieved the news...he was that husband on the hospital floor sobbing over his wife...we were the family in the car sobbing and rushing to the hospital...I was the wife yelling at her husband to drive faster...

...we recieved the news that our father in law had gone to be with His Heavenly Father while I was on my way to the hospital to see him knowing he wasn't doing well...most horrific moment...I wasn't even in the car with my sweet husband...he was at home rushing out the door to get there as well..we were both those drivers trying to make it to the hospital to be there for Marsha....so you see, you don't know what that driver is going through or what news that person at the hospital just recieved.

I am a feeler...I feel very strongly for others...I take on their pain and their hurt which I think makes me a compassionate provider but can also leave me feeling wounded, sad, and very defeated sometimes. I want and wish I could fix other's pain, their hurt, but know I can't, only my Heavenly Father is capable of that. Only He has been able to mend my wounded heart in the times it has felt unrepairable. When I think about the many stomache dropping, gut wrenching moments in my life I can only sympathize and feel for those who have felt that same pain. So next time you are thinking about yelling at the waiter that was too slow with your water, complain about how bad your day was because you spilled your coffee, or throw someone "the bird" that is driving too slow...try to see the world through their eyes...remember you NEVER know what other people are going through...what pain, what sorrow or even joyful moment they are in. Don't ruin others joy because of your sorrow...which can be just as painful, but lift up others...when we stop being selfish and start being more selfless others can see more Christ in us.

I have prayed after every heartache that the Lord would not allow me to stay bitter and broken but that He would mold me and teach me and I think He has been successful, I have changed and grown but am not bitter. My husband Dennis has blessed me far more than I could imagine. I have worked hard to forgive and move on, I have begged God to not let my daughter have to go through some of the pain and sorrow that I have but know that His plan far exceeds what I think....that though I will never understand, He allows the heartache and the heart break sometimes, but it is all a part of His bigger plan, there is a reason for every season we just have to trust....



A Time for Everything
1There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

5 comments

  1. SO beautiful, Stephanie. Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart!

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  2. This post has really touched my heart. Beautifully written, powerful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing such a moving post.

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  3. Thank you for sharing, Stephanie. Very insightful post.
    :-)

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