Take A Look In The Mirror

Can I be honest with you? There are certain things that people do that frustrate me to no end. I get so worked up internally about whatever it is that I can literally feel my heart rate rising. One of these moments happened earlier this week. You would have never known because I didn't lash out or even change my demeanor, but internally my mind started racing. I was asking myself, "Why in the world would you act like that?" "How stupid could you be?" I was only trying to help.

Later that night I realized that I was looking at one comment that someone had made with the equivalent of a magnifying glass. I was looking at every minuscule detail of that comment and was picking it apart. I flipped the scenario and exchanged my magnifying glass for a mirror. I quickly realized that I would have made a similar comment if I was in that persons shoes. The reason I had been so angry and offended was because I saw something in someone else that represented what was inside of me.

I'm called, not to judge the people around me, but to love them.

Next time something offends you, take a moment and pull out a mirror. The key to personal and relational growth is focusing, not on their problems but the problems within you.

Context: Mark 12:30-31

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