Before you criticize, walk a mile in my shoes

January 31, 2012 — 19 Comments

critcism

I have a confession to make.

I can be a critical person.

I know it’s wrong but I find myself doing it anyway.

It is way to easy for me to criticize someone because of my perceptions of them.

I see a kid screaming in the grocery store and my first thought is “What kind of parent allows their child to scream in the grocery store?  Come on, be a better parent!”

I see people who are struggling with their finances and my first thought is “If you sold your $50,000 truck you wouldn’t be in this position!”

The problem is: I don’t have a clue as to what is really going on in these people’s lives!

Walk a mile in my shoes

In the 1970′s Elvis Presley wrote a song called “Walk a Mile in My Shoes.” The chorus of the song goes like this:

Walk a mile in my shoes,
just walk a mile in my shoes
Before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Then walk a mile in my shoes

These are words that I want to live my live by!

Instead of criticizing another person we need to take the time to walk a mile in their shoes.

Here’s the rest of the song .  Let the words sink in as you listen to it.

Do you have the tendency to abuse, criticize and accuse before you hear the whole story? Whose shoes do you need to walk a mile in today?

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Kevin Martineau

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I am the Pastor at Port Hardy Baptist Church on Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. I am married to my best friend and I have three beautiful daughters.

19 responses to Before you criticize, walk a mile in my shoes

  1. marquita herald January 31, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    Wow what an inspirational message Kevin. For better or worse, I believe it’s human nature to pre-judge people based on our perceptions – which of course are natually colored by all of the biases and internal baggage we carry around with us. It’s always good to have a reminder – thanks!
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  2. Don Faust January 31, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    Good words to live by – you never know what someone else’s circumstances are.
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  3. RevCollins January 31, 2012 at 5:28 pm

    I think we all have a tendency to judge others and be critical. as Marquita said, we also judge based on our own bias. Most of the time, we would change our mind if we knew the whole story. I also try to not judge a person until I hear their side of a disagreement between friends. Can’t say that I am always successful ;) Thank God He isn’t done with me yet.
    RevCollins recently posted…God Cares for YouMy Profile

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  4. Joanne Norton January 31, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    It’s a challenge for me, too. I’m a “knee-jerk” fighter, either for or against what’s going on. The Lord pops me on the head [or hits my heart] when I’m too picky about others’ lives. A bit better than I used to be; maybe it will increase by the time I’m 100, although I hope I’m in heaven long before then.
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  5. Cherrie Bautista January 31, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    This reminds me of a quote or saying that says “Don’t compare your life with others. You have no idea what they’re going through”. Similar to judging. We have no idea what other’s are going through so let’s not judge. In fact we all need to stir away from doing this. If we’re non-judgemental, life would be a lot simpler and happier :-)
    Cherrie Bautista recently posted…Learn To Give Back Using Social MediaMy Profile

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  6. Fatima Hipolito January 31, 2012 at 11:30 pm

    Nice one kev’s I love to see what you shared in here that talks about the criticize and the video you share in here was really interesting…

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  7. Sadie-Michaela Harris February 1, 2012 at 4:29 am

    Kevin, Kids in supermarkets…I hear you there!
    It’s so easy to be judgmental, n’est-ce pas?! Heck we do it on auto pilot if we don’t hold ourselves in check. A good topic to share and at the very least make well make many reflect inwardly as a result of reading this post!
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  8. Lisa notes February 2, 2012 at 11:58 am

    This is advice we need to hear often. It could turn relationships around if we’d all take into consideration where the other person is coming from.

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  9. Manuela February 6, 2012 at 11:56 am

    I definetively believe that a lot of people easily judge the life of other people when they have not experimented before some painful experience that could has deeply touched them.

    Sometimes to live a painful experience, especially when this is due to your errors, can really teach you to not judge somebody’s else life..
    Everybody can commit errors and you may be a living proof!

    Reply

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