Circle of Trust

For my COT, I wanted to start with this quote,

“Do not judge people only based on one thing, every coin has two sides.”

I want to talk a little bit today about pre judging people.  Pre judging someone can be about anything and involves you forming an opinion about someone based on appearance, gossip, etc.   I never really reflected hard this area until during my first divorce back in the 2015-2016 time when my now ex-wife was spreading false things about me to our friends, acquaintance’s, parents from our children’s school, parents of our children’s friends, the court, etc.  She spread falsehoods such as how I was a drunk that abused her and that I was mentally unbalanced and lost touch with reality.  She even convinced her therapist to volunteer to the court on the day before our hearing the untruth that I had showed up at her office stumbling drunk threatening everyone in the office.  I had to provide phone records, testimony from witnesses who were with me on dates in question, even my gym had to provide evidence that I had swiped my card and was working out during one of the alleged incidents.  I proved to the court that it was not true but the damage that resulted in how many people in my life viewed me was significant.  I had some of my kids friends parents cancelling playdates or attending birthday parties if it was at my house.  Some of these parents knew me for several years and I had considered them fairly good friends.

It hurt me.  It did.  But it made me truly realize that you need to be aware that there are two sides to every story.  I had people avoiding me because they just believed her claims that I was a drunk that was abusing her.  It sounds ridiculous but it happens a lot.  I know several people in similar type situations.

My challenge to you today is to not form a judgement on someone especially when you only know have of the story.  That friend that you might prejudge based on one side of a story probably really could use your friendship during that rough time instead of you looking down at them.  If there is someone that you know that you might have prejudged recently then I suggest you reach out to them and ask them how they are doing and maybe hear their side of the story.

Aye?

F3 is not a religious organization but we will end in a prayer.  You’re welcome to join or take a minute to connect with your sky Q.  Are there an intentions we can acknowledge?