Have you ever noticed that people tend to be hard on others? I’ve been a confidant on many occasions, and I’m always amazed at the opinions people have of others. I’ve noticed that some people have higher expectations for others than they do for themselves.
One of the God-inspired people skills I use to combat this tendency is the subject of this email: let them be human. I’d argue that we’re all guilty of having unrealistic expectations of others. We want them to “dot every ‘i’ and cross every ‘t’,” especially when they interact with us. Paul, however, gives us a reality check about ourselves and others: For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23, NLT). We all have areas for improvement, and remembering this can spare you of some unnecessary stress.
The next time someone says something that rubs you the wrong way, drives recklessly in front of you, or doesn’t meet your expressed expectations, remember this: they’re just being human. No one is perfect, so we shouldn’t expect it. I encourage you to let others be human. After all, God gives you the same courtesy.
Thought to Consider:
Are your expectations of others too high?