People Are the Way They Are for a Reason

People are quick to judge others by their appearance or behavior, often spewing words like "weird" or "ugly" as though doing so has any benefit. How does it profit the conversation? If it makes you feel better about yourself to view others with an attitude of superiority, then you don't have the correct view of what constitutes a healthy self-esteem.


I have found we either want to show off to people as though we have more than them or we may plunge into the depths of despair when we notice others whom we perceive as better looking, funnier, more popular, etc.


I am understanding more as I age just why God calls us to find our worth in Him (indeed, He is our only worth) and how the exercise of comparing ourselves to others or putting ourselves down is futile.


Everyone has different experiences in life and their upbringing is totally different from everyone else. There are many factors to consider before thinking we are superior or even inferior to others. People are the way they are for a reason. It could be bad choices, a challenging home life, abuse, mental illness, insecurities that date as far back as their childhood when relatives put them down or kids made fun of them at school, etc.


If we would only see everyone we meet as having value in the sight of God and dignity as a person, it would really change the way we interact with (or speak about) others.


Self-injurers have their reasons. People who might be seen as uncool have a past and a history you know nothing about. Even mean people can be hurting in deep ways which is why they lash out at others.


We must stop taking the opinions of others so seriously and begin holding opinions about others through seeing them as a person with feelings, goals, longings, dreams, a past, present, and future...a home life, possible financial issues, stresses we know little about and as individuals who want to fit in and be accepted by their peers just like the rest of us. How cruel to single people out by joining in when that person is taunted or made fun of in our group of friends at school. Please make conscious choices to build people up by acknowledging the loner, welcoming the outcast, offering help to the needy, extending grace to the hurting, and being someone to lean on for those who feel there is no one true and kind enough to pay attention to them.


It could make all the difference! Your words of affirmation, your smile, you walking to class with the person others think is weird, you praying for them, you choosing to never say a mean word to or about them can cause them to look back and say, "Because of his or her influence, I refrained from committing suicide. School was a bit more bearable. I felt cared for even in the smallest ways."


I challenge each of us to reach out to that one person we all know of at school or work and say hello each time you see them. Wave hi when you see them. Give them a hug or high five. Invite them to join you for lunch or even buy them a dessert or coffee. Get to know them a bit. You might just learn something new!