RST -- Help Me Remember

Thanks, Gladys, for this gentle yet profound reminder...

Heavenly Father,

Help me remember that "the jerk" who cut me off in traffic might be a single mother who just worked nine hours and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children before getting ready to do it all again tomorrow.

Help me to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested-looking young man who can't make change correctly might be a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting financial aid next semester.

Remind me, Lord, that the scary looking guy begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) might be a slave to addictions or illnesses that I can only imagine in my worst nightmares.

Help me to remember that the old couple walking so annoyingly slowly through the store, blocking my shopping progress, are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last Christmas that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, let me be slow to judge and quick to forgive--as you have been with me.

Amen.

(You've been prayed for today).