In the quiet heart is hidden

I've written and re-written this post about a gazillion times. It just isn't sounding right to me. Not that it's "bad" per say, but I don't like how what I'm trying to say is coming across.

Basically, I've been thinking a lot lately. Specifically, I've been thinking about trials. I've been taken back recently at how many people around me are suffering. Sometimes, I get so focused on what I'm going through that I forget to stop and look at the big picture. I get in such a hurry that I don't hold doors open for people, or I don't let the little old lady who's just wanting to buy some orange juice go ahead of me at the grocery store. I forget that these people I come in contact with everyday are actual people. People with heartaches, people with struggles, people who are on the verge of breaking down. A while ago, I stumbled across this blog post. Go read it right now. It will change the way to treat people. Once I read it, I was determined to cut the crap so to speak, with superficial relationships. I hate the "How are you?" "Oh fine, thanks." conversations that occur on a daily basis. I've been asked that before and I sometimes just want to scream, "I'm NOT ok! I'm having the worst day I've had in months." but who does that?

I was talking to a friend a few days ago, that actually does do that every once and a while. She's feisty and I admire her for it. She doesn't intend to make people uncomfortable, but to make them think. So often, we're too busy worrying about our own problems, that we miss hearts breaking around us. You never know what the cashier at Target had to deal with before they started their shift. You never know why your doctor felt the need to have a 45 minute conversation with the patient ahead of you (even if it was a conversation about horses and dating...). You don't know who's going through a divorce, who got in a fight with a loved one the night before, who had a someone recently die, who just had a miscarriage or who...whatever it may be.

This all sounds so depressing and I know it's a weird topic for my blog, but I can't get it out of my head. It's been especially interesting to see people interact this holiday season because people are sooo busy. And greedy. And rude. So, my Christmas wish is to have people pay closer attention to each other. Stop with the superficial 'friendships' and really get to know somebody. Basically, just be kind to one another because it's true. In the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see.

So please, just be kind.

{Image}