Monday, January 08, 2007

Do To Others As You Would Have Them Do To You

Finally I can catch a breather and take some time to write about a conversation that I overheard from two colleagues while I was having my breakfast at the cafeteria. My table was next to theirs and they were loud enough for me to listen to the topic discussed. I did not mean to eavesdrop though. This sparked some thoughts which I felt I should include them in todays' blog.

Well, they were talking about how one of their friends was recently diagnosed to have ovarian cancer. That friend is only 27 years old and she just had an engagement with her boyfriend in October last year.

The main part of that conversation was about how her fiance has decided to break up with her and apparently she is now in depression - over her cancer and the break-up. What a double blow it must have been for this lady. :(

What saddened me was the next remark made by one of the two colleagues. She said it is better for the break-up to happen because that friend with ovarian cancer is not healthy anymore and who knows next time, even if she recovers from this ordeal, whether there will be another recurrence.

I am disappointed and appalled by the comment made because it seemed to me that once someone is diagnosed to have a serious illness, he or she is now of a lower grade.

I used to suffer from kidney ailment and still have recurring stomach ulcers. This morning's encounter with the two ladies made me wonder how many people around me are thinking the same way as them. The worst thing was this - they are friends to the 27-year old lady. How can they say such a thing behind her back?

I was troubled by what I heard. After eating my sandwiches, I went up to the rooftop of my workplace to spend some time in prayer.

I asked the Lord whether am I a lower grade human because I was seriously ill before? I am also curious as to how many of my friends share the same thoughts as the two ladies in the cafeteria. I do not mean to doubt my friends but this incident has caused me to wonder.

Well, the peace I found was this - everyone has their opinions and I cannot control what they think or say. I should not be affected by their thoughts if my identity rests firmly in Christ alone. So long as I know the Lord loves and accepts me for whatever condition I am in (be it whether I am not as healthy as others or whether I am fat), that is more than comforting already. I also know that when I die and am with the Lord, the body I have now will be renewed and it will be one that is spotless.

A good start to the new week - I am thankful to God for allowing me to reflect on my identity in Him. :)

Though I have written the above-mentioned, I have to admit that today's encounter with the two ladies and the previous one with the other lady who called me "fat-shit" have shaken me a little as to how people would think of me. I guess it is human for me to feel insecure.

I pray that I myself will not be prejudiced against others which I have to confess that I do at times. If I am affected by what the two ladies spoke about, then I must also think of the people whom I sometimes spoke ill of. They too would be hurt.

In my journey ahead, I pray I will think before I speak lest I hurt my friend.

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31

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