Consider This...

"Your greatness is measured by your kindness; your education and intellect by your modesty; your ignorance is betrayed by your suspicions and prejudices, and your real caliber is measured by the consideration and tolerance you have for others."-Wm. J.H. Boetcker

"The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things."-Prov.15:28

We have all done it...judged a situation prematurely, gotten upset with someone without knowing all the facts...been inconsiderate. Why do we do it? "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."-Prov.14:29 If someone were to call us inconsiderate or thoughtless, our feelings would probably be hurt. We would quickly become defensive and say, "No! Not me!" (Prov.16:2-All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.) Yet, when we judge a situation without taking the time to evaluate the facts, and deliberately meditate on them...you are guilty of being inconsiderate. (Consideration:1.The act of considering; careful thought; meditation; deliberation 2.Something that is to be kept in mind in making a decision, evaluating facts, ect. 3. Thoughtful or sympathetic regard or respect; thoughtfulness for others.) Not only would the World be a much better place if we all took the time out just to be considerate, but I guarantee that our personal relationships would all improve if we simply practiced more consideration. How do we accomplish this? First, it is important that we learn to stick strictly to the facts. Too many times, we allow our emotions, expectations, or personal opinions and beliefs to cloud our judgements and we base our decisions and reactions off of that, instead of just dealing with the facts. The problem with emotions is that they are ever-changing. The problem with expectations is that they can be unrealistic. The problem with personal opinions and beliefs are that...well they are personal(1.of or pertaining to, coming from, or intended for a particular person;individual;private 2.intended for use by one person). Therefore, what works for one person, may not necessarily work for the next, and so finding a compromise based on some common grounds may prove to be impossible. Facts, however, (fact: something that actually exists;reality;verifiable truth) can not be changed. They are what they are, and they remain exactly the same regardless of what person is dealing with them. Facts have no respect of persons. Learn to base your judgements off of facts and you will naturally be a little more considerate. Next step is to empathize. (empathy: the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.) Try putting yourself in the shoes of whoever the person is that you are dealing with. Try to imagine that it were you in their current situation. Ask yourself what your feelings would be, so that you can possibly understand where they are coming from. Then, ask yourself, not only what you would do...but also, how you would want others to respond/react to you. I don't mean how you would feel if you were exactly as you currently are... I mean if you were truly to fill that other person's shoes, take on whatever situation they were in, as a whole. Look at all angles, all variables, all factors involved. The second commandment is: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."-Matt.22:39. The same consideration, the same thought, that you put into yourself and your decision making, should be put into the way that you interact with, respond to, and treat others...at all times. It could be something as complex as an argument with a co-worker, friend, family member or stranger or something as simple as putting yourself in the shoes of the person in traffic waiting patiently to switch lanes when you could clearly let them go in front of you...there is always a reason to be considerate.
God did not make us the strongest or the largest creatures on the Earth, yet he gave us rule over all other creatures. What makes us equipped to have such power?? Our superior level of intelligence (capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc.) Utilize this gift; take the time out to think, meditate, and be considerate. The reward you will get within your relationships and interactions with others is so worth it. So many times, we wonder what is going wrong with our relationships, we think we've tried every remedy, and we just can't pinpoint what it is that could be wrong....Have you tried simply being considerate?? I'll end with this quote that is oh so true and fitting...
"There is but one genuine love-potion---Consideration."-Menander of Athens Quotes

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)