Wasn't there at time long ago where women relied on each other and instead of being competition with, they were a strength to one another? It is interesting how over time women have become more competitive and more likely to tear one another down. Women these days tend to judge and pick apart everything about the women around them. We might judge whether someone is a good mother(Even if it is just based solely on the way their kids look. Hair not brushed, face not washed.), a good wife, or base a woman's worth on how well she dresses, imperfect delivery of words, or the differences between each other that seem unacceptable. Maybe we don't give a person a chance because they are too pretty, successful, or smart. (Our reaction being out of jealousy in that case.) Whatever our reasons we as women spend a lot of time judging unfairly. In this error of thinking we miss out on the beautiful creations of God around us that could add to our lives and give it more beauty and color.
My concern and focus on women is this... Women are the mothers of the children around us, they are the nurturers. The ones who give birth to and raise all the people in the world, who soften the experience of life for all. If we knew when we had treated someone badly that it had trickled down and affected this persons whole family in a negative way maybe even into generations, how would we feel about our actions? What would we do differently if we knew that our thoughts, words, and actions were leaving deep scars, wounds? We need to take care of the women, mothers, sisters, and daughters in our lives and around us so that the true nature of women will survive..
There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.”
~Thomas S. Monson
When we look into the faces of people around us who are either ornery, angry, or of sad countenance, how do we know what they are going through? Chances are, the way that they are acting isn't the whole story. Instead of making a snap judgment on someone we don't even know or because of one of their "bad moments" we need to think of the challenges that person in our life or around us might be having. Maybe "so and so" is being really short with you because her relationship is falling apart at home, or she is being battered by her husband. Or that woman whose hair is a mess today has a child in the hospital that she has been pacing the floor and worrying about all night. Even if a person is acting unreasonable and irrational there may be something beneath the surface that we cannot see. The sorrow or struggle in that persons life may be something that would be too hard for us to bear. If we would look into the faces of our fellow human beings with a compassionate and caring perspective, that quite possibly this person may need our help, kind words, some sort of action on our part. If we took this perspective in the way we see the world, what might we avoid taking offense at, and how many other other things might change for the positive? We would undoubtedly have more of a Christ-like perspective! Our Heavenly Father CAN see our worth and he can always feel our pain and struggles, he doesn't spend his time judging us and mocking our inability to keep it together. He wants us to succeed and for us to be kind to ourselves in our own frailties and weaknesses, as well as to be kind to others and their challenges.
The television, Internet, etc., all have ads that give messages of if you change your weight, your chest size, your hair color, your clothes you can be beautiful/acceptable. If you buy this you can be beautiful/acceptable, if you do this you will be beautiful/ acceptable. The truth is that we are all beautiful and acceptable the way that we are. If you want to adjust or change something to help yourself esteem or to make you feel good about yourself, great! But it is important to love yourself where you are at, and others where they are at. We all have something beautiful and wonderful to offer the world around us. We could all use a little extra kindness and care from one another. Imagine what a difference in the world there would be if we didn't judge unkindly and if we gave others the benefit of the doubt. If we reached out our hands to our families, our neighbors, our friends and built others up instead of tearing them down. We will be making a great contribution to society.
We are all connected whether we accept that or not and we all have a place and a purpose in this life that is more likely to be achieved if we love and accept ourselves and others. If we ask others to change so we can be more comfortable with our lives we are making a mistake. (It is okay to ask someone to change their self destructive behavior out of concern for them.) Everyone needs to be true to who they are and what they are to become. We will all be more effective in this life if we are true to ourselves and who we are. How on earth will we fulfill our divine purposes by trying to be someone else? It just won't happen!
“Be Kind for Everyone You Meet is Fighting a Great Battle.”–
