Sometime ago my father who is 83 years old, told my family a rather funny story. We got such a kick out of it, I thought it worth repeating. However, to understand my father’s humor, you have to know a little about him. Keep his age in your mind as you read this Blog.
Dad believes there are very unusual things going on in the modern world today, and not necessarily good things. He feels these peculiarities often make no sense at all, like communicating through cell phones and texting. He thinks the same thing about E-mail, My Space, and even Face Book. He also doesn’t understand why you have to talk to somebody in India who can’t speak English for help on a problem in America. Come to think of it, neither do I. He says most modern day communication tools are nothing but great time wasters and they only complicate a person’s life. He believes the way people communicate today is way over rated and all these stupid gadgets just distract us from really being with people. He says, “If you want to talk to somebody, just go see ‘em for goodness sake.” He believes people come up with something more strange everyday, than they did the day before. Dad says nothing surprises him anymore. Remember this as I share his restaurant story with you now.
Dad told us that he went out to eat at a restaurant and he saw something that really upset him there. On his way to the restroom in the back, there was a sign that said Baby Changing Station. And he said, “Soooooo I’ve been thinking… about that sign, BABY CHANGING STATION. Does it mean, if yoooou don’t like your baaaaby, you can make a SWITCH? What is the world coming to? Do people really trade their babies in for ones they might like better?” Needless to say, we were hysterical laughing at my father’s interpretation of what the sign meant. Obviously, the real meaning of the sign was just a friendly reminder that one could change a baby there. Even though the message on the sign was clear, my father’s interpretation of that message was entirely different than what the author intended.
How many times in our lives do we misinterpret information like my father did? I have certainly done so many times before. How often do we misinterpret each other? How frequently do we wrongly judge the intentions of others, especially people who love us and want the best for us? How often are those intimate relationships with loved ones damaged, because we CHOOSE to THINK less of someone? At times we assume our interpretation is accurate without even asking them, which can be dangerous? Human nature allows us to easily pick up offenses, but it doesn’t make it right. When relationship problems occur, they can move us emotionally away from a loved one or friend, when we should be moving towards them. We can rush to judgment of those closest to us, often unintentionally. Sometimes we give strangers better treatment than the people who would do anything for us, our family. Why would we treat a person with no investment in our lives better than we do a loved one? Perhaps it is based on unfair judgment. God’s word teaches us to be at peace with all men and think no evil of them.
How often have you been hurt by similar experiences in your life? Just ponder your life journey for a minute. Are you carrying around some pain, due to unresolved issues with another person? Have you done all you can to fix it? Each of us has the capacity to really listen and understand an issue through another person’s eyes, if we only try. We have the option to go to them sincerely, wanting the situation to improve. We can ask ourselves if we could live under the scrutiny we expect others to live under, as we evaluate them. Are we as perfect as we want them to be? We can all approach someone we have an offense with and ask to talk to them. We stand before a Heavenly Father for the sins we CHOOSE to commit. We must get our pride and ego out of the way and realize how much we value those we may have offenses with. If we don’t value them we are the ones with the problem. The walls we put up are best served when torn down. What if tomorrow was the last day on earth for the individual we have the offense with? What if we had an opportunity to solve that offense and did not do so? Death has a way of reducing our so called “big deal.” If someone hurt you, you be the bigger person. Lovingly ask them for clarification of their intentions during the time you got hurt. Then BELIEVE what they say in response. You’ll be better because of it. If the person who hurt you is not sincere, God will deal with them. He’ll do a better job bringing their problems into their own line of sight than you ever could. You’ll do your part by going to them. The rest is up to them. Be in the habit of asking for clarity BEFORE passing judgment or scrutinizing another person. How much pain could be eliminated in the world if we would choose to think the best of each other, and genuinely care about them? I have learned that I am a full time job for me. When I spend my time evaluating MY BEHAVIOR, I don’t have time to evaluate others. I have miles to go on me. So I’ve been thinking, when I see a sign Baby Changing Station, I’m the only baby I need to change.
I will never see a baby-changing sign and not think of your blog! That was great. You’re such a blessing!
That story was hilarious , and I loved your application. So true…
Great story…I have often wondered why they put those in the men’s and women’s restrooms since I have never seen a man using them. Powerful message!