Knowing

It is amazing how much we do not know about people. We can assume things, but often our assumptions are incorrect. That is something I am learning.

It also seems the more I learn about people and their experiences, I learn about myself in that process too.

I have spent time reading one of my professors' books, A Whole New World. It is about experiencing the death of their daughter in a car accident and their journey after that experience. It was a heart-wrenching read which reminded me of that compassion that we should have for all people because we do not always know what people have or are going through. One of my favorite quotes is,

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

How true this is! Some people have very private battles buried so deep inside of them that no one knows and others have public battles that everyone can see they are fighting. No matter what, we should walk side by side and be willing to share the journey with someone as we all fight our battles. Maybe, with love and encouragement, we can know that we are not walking this journey alone.