I had a friend who got along wonderfully with me when we were alone, but when her other friends were with us, she treated me as if I were beneath her. She was wealthy, and so were many of her friends. They had their own language, and they judged people by what they owned, what they wore, and what they drove. One day, in frustration, I told my friend that either she could treat me the same way no matter who we were with, or she could forget having me as a friend. To my surprise, she chose to end the friendship. It is amazing how we find ways to judge one another. We set standards for acceptability and draw lines defining what is good enough and what isn't. We categorize people, and force them into molds. This is wrong in my eyes. We do our neighbor an injustice when we judge them. When we treat another person as an inferior, it is as if we were doing it to ourselves. We were taught to love all people, regardless of their status. We should accept everyone just as they are. When we learn to do that, we begin to love our neighbors as ourselves. Help me to love everyone equally, help me to accept everyone just as they are. Help me to see my brothers and sisters through eyes of unconditional love.
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You only live once; but if you work it right, once is enough. There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.
Hi Jeannie, Happy to see you posting again. Yes it is sad that human beings behave so unkindly. When in Fla. on a family vacation to Disney World, we were heading towards the gate to leave. Our sons had seen Mickey and Minnie throughout the park many times already. Husband spied them across this veranda that was virtually empty, making yet another appearance. As we headed toward them there beside us came a young man pushing another in a wheel chair. (Maybe early 20's to late teens.) I smiled as they passed and told my boys we would let them go ahead. Out of the blue others literally ran toward the "mice", yelling a screaming. In the midst was a tanned woman, dressed to the 9's in designer "casual" clothes, not a hair out of place, nails well polished and manicured........with her young daughter looking the same. They pushed right passed us as if life depended upon this meeting and those autographs. I felt so sorry for the boy in the wheel chair as his brother explained they may have to wait quite a bit. Whatever the reason that had put him in that chair, it was obvious he had both mental as well as physical challenges. I felt such rage as the this seemingly rich woman kept elbowing her way toward the front that as loud as I could shouted, "Mickey! Minnie!" Everyone turned and knowing I had the attention I pointed out the wheelchair bound young man. Now mind you he was a good ways from my family by then. Mickey gave a thumbs up and took Minnie's hand and went straight for those boys. The rich gal, she huffed and puffed and was not happy AT ALL! My boys......(4 and 2 at the time) didn't get that one last handshake, pat on the head ect. What they did get was a little lesson about respecting the less fortunate. It was amazing how for so young ...... they came home telling that story and how sorry they felt for that boy and how nice it was that Mickey and Minnie knelt down beside him and made him smile. Yes, may we love everyone equally! Wanda
BIG BRAVO!! for you Wanda!!!! That was a truly humanitarian thing to do. And yes Jeannie, it is sad that many people base friendship on things other than the true-to-life person. I find it equally odd to see people in the US vote, not for the better person for the job of running the country, but for party, or whatever betterment a candidate can do for them. Life is funny and not always logical or the way it seems should be best. Oh well...Tim
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"We posess the eyes through which the universe gazes with wonder upon its own majesty."
