Unfortunately, that's impossible. Depression is often hidden behind a smile, and sadness is bountiful where there seems to be happiness. Unless we're ultra super-sensitive to the sorrows of our fellow man, we can't just look at a person and know their life story.
Everyone wears a mask. Everyone wants to appear like they're doing OK - even when they're not, and they're actually really struggling. That's why, today, I want to just write this little post to remind you that there are sufferers in your presence.
They are the Hidden amongst us, the ones who seem to be handling everything fine. They are the secret grievers, the invisible mourners. Their physique proclaims to their family and friends that all is well - while the "inner man", as Plato once called the soul - is drowning and overwhelmed.
The lesson is: Don't ever assume that the person you're talking to, the person you're mad at, or the person you passed by at the mall is OK. The smallest rudeness on your part could wound them more than you know.
Be kind to everyone - because you never know who's fighting a battle for their lives.
You might just be crossing paths with one of the Hidden.
4 comments:
Thanks for the reminder... just made me jot a quick message to a dear friend of mine who's going through a tough time, and is really bottling things up. It's hard sometimes to know how to reach out to someone who's hiding behind fake smiles and all the right words... But I'm praying God will speak, even when I can't.
Yay. She's still posting. :)
This is something that God's definitely convicted me of lately. Because even if someone's your friend, even if the stranger looks like nothing could really be going on behind that face, even if the person's family and you know it won't matter, how do you really know what passing meanness might do to them?
It's kind of like C.S. Lewis' 'The Weight of Glory.' We're always either helping or blocking a person from finding God.
It's scary when you think about it. And rather amazing, too.
A very good reminder. We never know what is going on in the lives of so many we meet.
P.S.I noticed that you’re still following my blog, Footprints in the Sand, and I wanted to let you know that I’ve begun a new blog. My new blog is called College in a Coffee Cup (collegeinacoffeecup.blogspot.com) and I’d appreciate it if you would follow it instead of my other blog.
Thanks a bunch!
~Elizabeth J.
I love reading your posts past, present, and hopfully future.
You are right about sadness, and all the other stuff that comes along with it. My mom and her friend were just talking about that the other day. Because of what my family is going throught.
You never know whats going on in there lives. Never do you know....
~Tasha~
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