The way we treat others
     will say quite a lot.
Not really about them,
     more about what we’ve got.
Do I have compassion
     and kindness for those.
That God puts around me,
     not just those I chose.
Do I tend to order
     and boss those around.
Who don’t benefit me,
     at least that I’ve found.

It would be quite funny,
     if it wasn’t so sad.
There have been leaders
     who have treated me bad.
But that’s not important
     in what I will do.
The much bigger issue
     is how I treat you.
Do I look beyond all
     the things people see.
And love you like Jesus
     has shown love to me.

It is so easy
     to love those like us.
And think that those different
     are not worth the fuss.
It can take much effort
     to see in the heart.
But we’ll never get there
     if we refuse to start.
It can be quite risky
     to let down our guard.
But Jesus did warn us
     to follow Him would be hard.

When we show great favor
     to those who repay.
We’ve not lived like Jesus,
     at least that’s what He’d say.
To give to the needy
     what they can’t return.
Is a lesson from Jesus
     that we all need to learn.
To lift up the weak
     and carry their load.
Is a way to serve others
     as we all walk this road.

So what will you do
     with the choices you make?
When you deal with people
     will you give, not just take?
Will you listen closely
     to all that you hear?
And pay close attention
     to what’s hidden by fear.
To treat people better
     than others might do.
To give them the treatment
     that you’d want for you.

When you stop and think
     of what Jesus taught.
To go and do likewise,
     then really you ought.
There’s no better time
     to begin in that way.
To do good to others
     by starting today.
And when I say “others”,
     I mean everyone.
To put into practice
     what we’ve learned from the Son.
©

God gave me this poem last night as I spent time with Him in prayer and listening. This time I jotted it down so I wouldn’t forget it when I finally made it to the computer. I pray that it encourages each of us to see others as God sees them.

In prayer,
Tom