One of the easiest things to

find for many people is fault. There are a lot of fault-finders in the

world. There's always a critic. In fact, criticism is the one thing many

think is more blessed to give than to receive.

Working with people is a wonderful

blessing, but sometimes it gets rather interesting. People are going to

be people, and we need to remember that people are not going to be perfect.

Sometimes they don't return phone calls, or show up when they are supposed

to, or follow-through on what they say they're going to do. Some have

positive outlooks, and some never see a sunrise. Some are willing to go

the second mile, while others get by with as little as possible.

I like the story of the little

girl who came home from school proudly carrying a notebook full of school

work. She climbed into her daddy's lap and happily turned page after page

marked with A's in the right-hand corner. She was beaming.

Finally, she came to a page

that was not as neat and there was no big "A" there. Her leaking

pen had left two large blots in the middle of her work. Quickly, she put

down two fingers ­ one to cover one blot and one to cover the other.

She looked up into her father's understanding eyes and pleaded, "please

don't see the blots."

Not seeing the blots and being

careful not to criticize are two ways we can strengthen our relationships

with others. Henry Ward Beecher said, "Every man should keep a fair-sized

cemetery in which to bury the faults of his friends." If we wish

to master the art of working with people, we need to overlook the faults

and flaws of others. Often, it's a matter of perspective and choice.

Retired pastor James Griffith

tells about the old Missouri farmer, too old to farm, who passed the time

sitting on the fence, watching travelers heading West during the 1800's,

seeking new opportunities and looking for a new life.

One day a wagon stopped and

the rider shouted, "we're moving West and looking for a place to

settle. Tell me, how are the folks around here?"

"Well, how are the folks

where you came from?" the old farmer asked.

The settler replied, "the

folks in our town were the rudest, most unfriendly people we've ever known.

How are the people around here?"

"Oh," said the farmer,

"about the same."

A few days later another wagon

came by and the driver asked the farmer the same question: "how are

the people around here?"

Once again the farmer asked,

"how are the folks where you came from?"

The settler said, "why,

they are the greatest people in the world. Warm, friendly, and generous.

How are the folks around here?"

The old farmer replied, "Oh,

about the same."

People are about the same as

we perceive them and about the same as we treat them. People are people,

blots and all.

Do we love them? Do we care

about their needs? Do we show interest in their lives?

The bottom-line here is this.

If you put your faith in people alone, you'll often be disappointed. But

if you put your faith in Jesus, and care for people as Jesus did, you'll

find compassion and consistency, because Jesus never fails. With that

consistency, you can overlook the inconsistency of others. And you can

love folks anyway.

(Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor,

McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia. The church family

meets at 352 McDonough Road and invites you to join them this Sunday for

Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m.).

Back

to News Home Page |