How did we get here?!

   I am a bit of a chameleon. I can conform to any situation and I have a very eclectic group of friends. From the upper echelons of society to my trailer park true blues ;-) I have very little difficulty maneuvering between these groups and think they are so much more alike than they even realize. I love hearing peoples histories and knowing their backgrounds. Isn't it funny the picture of someone can be so two dimensional to us until we begin to dig a little deeper. I will always remember one night arguing with a woman about the correct way to discipline some kids we were working with. I told her I don't want to lower the bar because they will meet this lowered expectation. She promptly said to me "You don't know anything about these kids. I come from where they come from, we weren't born with a silver spoon in our mouths like you!" She had plenty more to say to me that evening, but I don't remember it all. I remember standing there thinking who is she talking about and who does she think I am. I realized she had a very skewed opinion of me, and I began to wonder, how many times have I set up a background story for someone in my path never caring to "verify the facts". And I have to admit it happens more often than I realized. I know it's easier to decide that the one who has hurt you in some way is the bad guy in a Disney movie. But it brings me back to a study I did that spoke to this. It said meanness has a history. Amen! I know mine always has. Oh yes, I've told you on several occasions, my mean girl is tough, and I am constantly having to subdue her. See in her day she served a very necessary purpose. She protected me and defended me when no one else did or would. However, in my life today I have very few "real" threats but she continues to look for them at every turn, and I continue to rewrite peoples stories so that I am the good guy and they are the bad guys. I hate admitting this! I am changing, thank you Lord! I have begun to say to myself "See them how God sees them. Remember, they have a background just like you." Meanness has a history, and it is often a hard one. Remind yourself what it took for them to survive this "history". And remind yourself of times you have acted out as a mean girl might and forgive. Also maybe take a little time to get to know the background story for these amazing woman warriors of God!
   God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill