Our assumptions may not always reflect other people's true intentions

I've been meaning to write about a parable I heard in a movie sometime ago. I don't remember what the movie was called, but the following story really made an impression on me:

One day, a father and a son were traveling on a road to reach home. Both of them were traveling on foot while their donkey carried the belongings.

As they passed through a town to rest, they heard people whispering, "They are so ridiculous! They have a donkey who can carry them and they are not using it." The town's people laughed at them and humiliated them.

So, as the father and the son travelled on to the next town, they decided to mount the donkey.

As they passed the second town, they heard people whispering, "They are so inconsiderate! The poor donkey has to carry the weight of both of them plus their belongings." The town's people snickered at them and avoided them.

So, as the father and son travelled on to the next town, the father decided to let only his son ride the donkey.

As they passed the third town, they heard people whispering, "That son is so heartless! He makes the old man walk while he rests on the donkey". The town's people pitied the old man and thought the son was full of himself.

So, as the father and son travelled on to the next town, the father decided to ride the donkey while his son walked.

As they passed the fourth town, they heard people whispering, "That father is so heartless! He makes his young child walk while he rests on the donkey". The town's people treated the father harshly and pitied the son.

So, as the father and son travelled on to the next town, the father told his son, "From now on, let's act with the best intentions in our hearts and let the wind blow away the whispers of other peoples' thoughts".

Society is filled with whisperers and talkers who love making assumptions about others.

Let's strive this week to meet others where they are, instead. Let's learn about other people's story before we create an erroneous version of our own.

What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you. Let's connect!

Trust the process. Live the commitment