Seeing Others As Myself

I had just a handful of friends I felt comfortable around. I didn’t do well with many on count of teen attitudes and back stabbers who said they were your friend but would talk about you like there is no tomorrow!

While working my teen years on the farm, I discovered a neighbor back a different road from us that I didn’t know existed; God’s hand again placing people where needed! She was a simple heart that matched her beauty on the outside. I enjoyed spending time with her because she was as honest and kind as they come. We spent time going a few places and one particular place I remember was Kings Island with our church’s youth group. Back then it was called CYO – Catholic Youth Organization.

We had a great time and even ventured onto the Beast. She was not raised as Catholic and was a Christian. Her faith shone through her and her brothers and I caught a glimpse of pure love and peace for others. I look into a kaleidoscope of a picture of the two of us at Kings Island that we had taken together and I can still see that heart! Her brothers and their friends also worked on the farm with us. I payed attention to who they were and began to question my attitude and faith.

There was more to being picked on and chasing the spiraling path I was on and I got frustrated more with myself. I probably seemed a bit bossy and got an attitude but most teens do anyhow. I just added more to it than some because I didn’t know how to get a handle on my feelings.

At school, I watched a few girls who were also being made fun of for various reasons and decided to get to know them. I wanted to fit in and have friends and they needed friends as well. Difference on the outside shows nothing of the heart and they showed another side of God in their Christianity. Those kind of hearts last and I am still friends with my neighbor down the road, which I look forward to seeing this weekend, and that group of ladies from high school.

I began at this stage to open my eyes to other hearts and have a little more sympathy for others. I began to look beyond myself a little and see some of what God wanted me to see. My heart was growing and I was a bit sensitive but that was ok. I have found that sensitivity is a gift and not a curse as some might believe and there was a couple who made it a point to shove it in my face and be sarcastic about it, but I have learned that God’s heart for me was bigger. I would rather be sensitive and have sympathy than be as some who feel free to dish out opinions and be unsympathetic.