Humbled

I am constantly amazed at my own arrogance. It's so easy to judge others, but when you have a moment of realization that not everyone is like you, that not everyone has had your privileges and upbringing, that not everyone has had it so easy, it is really humbling. We've all had our hardships and struggles, but I've not had things as bad as I think.

Friday, I had the pleasure of speaking with a lady that I've seen in passing many a time. We've said our greetings, smiled at each other and made frivolous inquiries like "How are you?" But on this day, she graciously opened herself up to me for some reason, and we spoke for an extended amount of time about her life. We started out by talking about her children and how much she loves them, what her hopes are for them, and what she believes about parenting. She told me that she really encourages her kids to look at her mistakes, look at their family members' mistakes, and the mistakes of those around them, and learn from them. That's what she had to do. She had to make a decision about how she wanted her life to be at a very young age, and then fight for that life.

Growing up, she had a goal. Her goal was this: to not get pregnant before the age of 21....and she made it. As she told me this success she lifted her hands and her eyes to the sky, smiled and said "Oh yes, I MADE IT!" This was so humbling for me to hear. While I was at SBEC in high school, with goals of graduating with honors, going to college and having a career, she was watching those around her have children when they were as young as 12 years old. She was watching her friends be abused, physically, emotionally and sexually, drop out of school, and be neglected by those they were supposed to be able to rely on the most. She was also being abused. Instead of her goal being to go to college, it was to simply make it through high school without getting pregnant. Wow. How privileged have I been?? How blessed? This conversation was such an inspiration to me. Hearing from a woman who defied the odds, which were not in favor, and then strive to give her children the life that she didn't have, was amazing. She was truly inspiring. She didn't talk about her life as a victim. She didn't talk about it in a bitter, angry way. She spoke about things in a "this is just how it was" kind of way. She wasn't looking for pity, nor was she over-exaggerating the negative experiences she had, she was just laying it out there, "matter of fact" like.

This reminded me that surrounding myself with people who aren't like me, gives me the humbling opportunity to learn a different perspective; gives me a humbling reminder, that the world is full of people who are suffering, struggling, and fighting to defy crippling statistics....and that I've had it so good in life, struggles and all. Thank you God for the blessings you've given me....and for the reminder that I need to be compassionate and gracious as you are, which is hard for a sinner like me!