“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
~Plato

Compassion is such a gift…for myself. It can be so easy to know I’m “right” and see the flaws in others. It can be very tempting to justify my actions and feelings by seeing how wrong, crazy, misguided, and mean those around me are. But I’m happier when I’m graced with compassion for others.

My dad had a stroke a few years ago, and it has, at times, brought out the worst in his personality. He is, and rightly so, at times angry, depressed, and hopeless, and his actions and interactions reflect this.

There are times I am filled with justifiable anger at my mistreatment and his insensitivity, but these are not my best times. I’m at my best when I’m filled with compassion for him – his life is hard and it’s not at all what he wants it to be. Yes, I may have tons of ideas for him that would help him, but it’s not up to me whether or not he listens to my wisdom or even cares. My life is better, and I’m more the person I want to be, when I allow my self to be graced with compassion.

His situation is a blatant example, but there are numerous times throughout my day that I have the choice to be filled with compassion for others and to be kind, or to choose to be judgmental, critical, and not very nice. Thank goodness for the times I remember that everyone is fighting a hard battle, and I stay in compassion and kindness.

Be kind. Be kind again.

Where are you judging someone? How can you see their efforts and struggle, and stay more in compassion?
Please leave a comment.

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