I’ve always had a keen interest in the lives of other people. Two of my favorite college courses were sociology and abnormal psychology. My sociology professor often brought in guest speakers with interesting experiences or occupations. We were privileged to listen to a variety of ex-cons, victims of violence and abuse, recovering alcoholics, counselors, and community leaders. The class, held in an auditorium, was so popular that half the people attending weren’t even enrolled!
That class, more than any other, impressed upon me that #1. I’m not the only person in the world with problems and #2. there is always more than one way to interpret a situation. My grandmother Della imparted those same lessons by instilling in me the notion that people have their “good faults and bad faults”. She was quick to admonish me if I harshly judged another person (usually a classmate) by reminding me that I had no idea what their struggles were without walking a mile in their shoes.
For a while I considered becoming a psychologist or some other type of counselor or healthcare worker. I joined the Junior Red Cross. I took some pre-nursing classes. Eventually I decided that I wanted to guide little minds before they got too messed up. I wanted to encourage them to choose the right path, not return from a detour. It was only after I started teaching that I realized even kindergartners have serious problems and need counseling and healing. I found myself immersed in their little lives and walking more than a mile in their shoes. Teaching was God’s perfect plan for my life.
Today I try to be helpful to my circle of family and friends. I try to share their triumphs and tragedies, be supportive and encouraging, and generally lead a useful life. I know people have some serious objections to Facebook and other social media. I have my own concerns about the power of evil and the influence that can be used by those who are far more “tech savvy” than I am. However, my current prayer list includes a friend having surgery, the daughter of a friend who is recovering from a car accident, a former student preparing for a speech contest, and a long-distance friend who is moving into a new house. I would not have been aware of any of them without the opportunity to correspond on social media. So…like any tool, social media can be used for good.
The power of friends and family carried me through some dark days recently. The prayers and encouragement of others proved to me that I am not alone, and that my problems are not unique. My hope and prayer for you today is that you are supported and encouraged by someone and that you are supplying the same for someone else. Our connections are vital to our health and happiness. COVID has proven that to us. We are not alone…and we don’t want to be alone.
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