DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

Buying six new study books, that's what I did when I entered 5th grade elementary school. Received today, payment is due in a week. That night when my dad came home from work, I told him that I bought books and had to pay a certain amount. 'Buy books again, spend money again, in a tough situation again,' that's what my dad complained about. As a child, I did not understand why my dad was complaining. The books were still paid for by my dad. Now, as I have become a father and my child goes to school, I understand why my dad complained. The burden of his life is heavy because he has to provide for four people, his wages are low because he works as a store laborer.

Different perspectives can make it difficult for us to understand why someone complains. We can empathize if we have ever been in the position of someone who is facing many problems and burdens. People may not want to understand if we are facing many problems. The good news is, Jesus Christ understands and shares in what we feel. This happens because Jesus Christ has been a human, experiencing various hardships in life, receiving ridicule, rejection, and persecution. Jesus Christ knows what it's like to be lacking, have no money, or live dependently.

It's better to stay silent and not judge if we have never been in the position of someone with weak faith and many problems. Provide assistance according to that person's needs. If people around us lack empathy when we are in trouble, there's no need to hold grudges or be resentful towards them because maybe they have never been in our shoes. --RTG/www.renunganharian.net