Before you judge…
Pause.
The mercy…
You give today…
May become…
The mercy…
You need tomorrow.
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
WE ALL HOPE TO RECEIVE IT
Whether we realize it or not…
We all ask for it.
Sometimes with words.
Sometimes with silence.
Sometimes simply…
By hoping someone…
Will understand.
The benefit of the doubt…
Is one of life’s…
Most priceless gifts.
It costs nothing.
Yet it can save…
A friendship.
A marriage.
A reputation.
Even a life.
WHAT IS IT?
It is choosing…
To believe…
There may be…
More to the story…
Than what first appears.
It is patience…
Before judgment.
Mercy…
Before condemnation.
Understanding…
Before accusation.
WORTHY NOTE
The benefit of the doubt…
Does not ignore truth.
It simply gives truth…
Time…
To reveal itself.
JESUS ASKED FOR IT
One of the most profound moments…
In human history…
Occurred while Jesus…
Hung upon the cross.
His words were not…
Words of revenge.
They were words of mercy.
“Father…
Forgive them…
For they know not…
What they do.”
What greater example…
Could there be…
Of giving mankind…
The benefit of the doubt?
THE COURTROOM
Courts of law…
Understand this principle.
Evidence is examined.
Witnesses are heard.
Facts are tested.
Justice requires…
That conclusions…
Not arrive…
Before the investigation.
Fairness…
Demands patience.
SO DOES LIFE.
THE HOME
How many marriages…
Have survived…
Because someone said…
“I’m sorry.”
Or…
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
Or…
“Let’s begin again.”
Learning together…
Requires room…
For mistakes.
Love…
Leaves space…
For growth.
THE RICHIE REVERSE RULE
Imagine…
Living in a world…
Where no one…
Ever forgave…
A misunderstanding.
Every mistake…
Would become…
A permanent sentence.
Now reverse it.
People are heard.
Intentions are explored.
Grace is given.
Relationships heal.
Which world…
Would you rather live in?
WE ALL NEED IT
As children…
We depended upon it.
As adults…
We still do.
Sometimes…
We misunderstood.
Sometimes…
We failed.
Sometimes…
We simply…
Didn’t know better.
How grateful…
We are…
When someone…
Believes…
The best about us…
Until the facts…
Become clear.
WORTHY NOTE
There but…
For the grace of God…
Go I.
Remembering this…
Makes it easier…
To be patient…
With others.
GIVE IT LIBERALLY
The benefit of the doubt…
Does not mean…
Ignoring repeated abuse…
Or refusing wisdom.
It means…
Beginning…
With fairness…
Rather than suspicion.
Beginning…
With questions…
Rather than conclusions.
Beginning…
With compassion…
Rather than condemnation.
THE INVISIBLE GIFT
Perhaps…
The greatest gift…
You can quietly give…
Someone today…
Is not money.
Not advice.
Not even solutions.
It is believing…
That they deserve…
To be heard…
Before they are judged.
FINAL THOUGHT
One day…
You will need…
The benefit of the doubt…
Again.
So will I.
Let us become…
The kind of people…
Who give freely…
What we ourselves…
Have been grateful…
To receive.
Mercy…
Has a remarkable way…
Of finding…
Its way home.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
Been expecting you