Perhaps I’ve become overly sensitive since reaching the BIG 50! Maybe I always was and only recently have been awakened to the fact that I’m sensitive.
I have a message to share to all the wonderful people who feel it’s imperative to point out others physical faults and/or blemishes. I’m sure you mean well because I can’t imagine that you would deliberately set your mind to knock down or hurt another human being.
I have to ask … is it really necessary to tell someone, or everyone, that they have a blemish on their face, or that their eyes look puffy, or that they have a crooked tooth? Is it important to tell someone that you’ve noticed they’ve gained a bit of weight, or . . . whatever!? Is this information news-worthy? Has anyone ever been shocked to hear they’ve gained weight or have a pimple smack-dab between their eyes? How do you feel now that you’ve got that off your chest? Excuse me while I run after my friend who is now in tears . . . or my child whose confidence is beaten down.
How important is it to share this information? How do these observations help a person grow? How does this information encourage and edify? How will this help that person in any way?
Personally speaking, if my character is need of adjusting, point it out with grace before truth. If my heart isn’t in the right place, show me where it should be with grace before truth. If I’ve said something out of line, correct me with grace before truth. Tell me something good, but please - it’s really not necessary to point out, or overstate the obvious. People are all too aware already of our physical shortcomings and “blemishes”. I see myself in the mirror every single morning, and truth be told – I do my very best to hide from you what you so diligently point out to me and particularly to those whom I love.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Phil. 4:8.
