I was at a zoomba Latin dance class tonight and it was an interesting experience to say the least. At one point we were all gyrating in a circular conga line and the instructor was in the middle flipping her hair about and dancing like she was on fire.
For half the class I was frustrated that the instructor wasn't keeping with the beat and was so hard to follow. And as I copied her half-belly dance, half-step aerobic moves, I felt God ask me to take another look at her through His eyes. Then I noticed her smile, saw her sincerely jovial nature, how much fun she was having, and that she was comfortable in her own skin. I could learn a thing or two from this woman. Dare I say, I started to have a good time hopping around like a fool, laughing at myself and looking at these women the way God saw them.
It made me think- how often am I in a hurry, preoccupied or just plain so self-conscious that I miss out on who people really are and how God sees them? It's so much easier to love others or grant them grace or compassion when you look at them through God's eyes. You put yourself in their shoes, you see their struggles, their hopes, their faults and the bits about them which are intrinsically unique. It grows tolerance and appreciation for others. It brings friendship, love and joy to the most unexpected places.
My prayer is that God grants me the patience and wisdom to see His people as He does, and the heart to love them as Jesus did. I sure would want others to extend me that kind of grace, wouldn't you?
"When you judge someone, you have no time to love them." -Mother Teresa
