My granddaughters went to school and were friends with a girl I'll call Meg. They were friends from the time they were 7 or 8 until high school. We all came to know and love her.
Meg grew up in a home filled with hate. She had one older sister who hated her and wouldn't speak to her. Her parents hated each other and slept in separate bedrooms. They didn't eat together as a family, everyone ate in their own room. Meg wanted to go live with an aunt who loved her but the parents said no.
Meg had headaches for years. Her parents said she was complaining about nothing. Finally, when she was a teenager they had her tested and it was found she had some form of epilepsy. She was put on pills and the headaches were better. She suffered for years with no help or sympathy.
When Meg went to high school she found other friends and so did my granddaughter so we all lost touch with her. I pray God will help her and she will turn to him in her life as an adult.
Why do I share this story of Meg? Because she may be the surly girl who waits on you at a restaurant. She may be the unhappy woman who doesn't smile while she works with you at the office. She may be the alcoholic next door or the girl who sleeps around trying to find love. She could be anyone.
Each day when you meet people remember Meg and what she went through. Perhaps we will all have more compassion and acceptance if we remember the people we meet may have suffered greatly in this life.
I read a book recently where the author said he couldn't understand why Jesus would come down to earth to suffer and die for us. If you have children you love then you understand why Jesus did it. You would also suffer and die for your children. How can God love an unhappy, cranky person? Because he has known them since they were a baby. He knows what they have been through. He knows and he loves - for God is love.
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