Looking Through a Different Lens

☕️Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Good morning, friend.

I’m so glad you stopped by this morning. My coffee is sitting beside me, and as I was getting ready for work today, I found myself thinking about something that has stayed on my heart for quite a while. It’s one of those lessons that the Lord continues to bring back to me, and every time He does, I seem to understand it a little differently.

People are carrying battles we know nothing about.

Working in child welfare has changed the way I see people. Before I ever supervised a team or sat across from families in crisis, I probably looked at difficult behavior the way many people do. It was easy to see a child acting out or a parent making poor decisions and immediately focus on what they were doing wrong.

After years of doing this work, I’ve learned that behavior is often just the visible part of a much deeper story.

Almost every day, I meet children whose lives have been shaped by abuse, neglect, addiction, domestic violence, or experiences that no child should ever have to endure. Trauma changes the way a child sees the world. It changes how they respond to stress, how they trust people, and sometimes even how their brains process everyday situations. When you’ve lived in survival mode for most of your life, it’s hard to suddenly believe the world is safe.

I’ve learned that:

• What often looks like defiance is really fear.

• What looks like anger is sometimes heartbreak.

• What appears to be disrespect may simply be a child who has never had someone patiently teach them another way.

That doesn’t mean we ignore poor choices or pretend there shouldn’t be consequences. Children need structure, accountability, and consistency. Those things help them feel secure. But understanding where behavior comes from helps us respond with wisdom instead of simply reacting in frustration.

As I drove to work this morning, I realized that lesson isn’t just for my job.

How often do we meet people every day without knowing anything about the burdens they’re carrying?

• The cashier who seems distracted may have spent the night sitting beside a loved one in the hospital.

• The coworker who appears impatient may be carrying worries they’ve never shared with anyone.

• The person who cuts us off in traffic may have just received life-changing news.

• The neighbor who rarely smiles may be fighting a battle behind closed doors that no one else knows exists.

The truth is, every person we meet has a story.

Most of us only see one page.

That thought brought me to the Gospels. One of the things I love most about reading about the life of Jesus is watching how He looked at people. While others saw tax collectors, sinners, lepers, or outcasts, Jesus saw souls. He never ignored sin, but He also never overlooked the person behind it. He saw people as individuals who needed truth, compassion, and hope.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately because I can’t openly share my faith at work. There are limitations that come with working for the state, and I respect those boundaries. But no one can stop me from treating people with kindness. No one can prevent me from listening carefully, showing patience, speaking respectfully, or offering compassion when someone needs it most. Sometimes our actions say more than our words ever could.

This week, the Lord has been reminding me that being His child isn’t just about what happens inside the walls of my church. It’s about how I represent Him everywhere He allows me to go. Whether I’m talking with my family around the dinner table, helping a coworker, meeting with a struggling parent, or encouraging a child who has forgotten what hope feels like, I have an opportunity to reflect the love that God has shown me.

That isn’t always easy.

There are days when I’m tired. There are days when I feel discouraged. There are days when I wish I had answers that simply don’t exist. Yet even on those days, God gently reminds me that I may be the only glimpse of kindness someone experiences that day.

• What a responsibility.

• What a privilege.

As I was reading my Bible this week, one verse seemed to fit everything the Lord has been teaching me.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

James 1:19 (KJV)

I’ve read that verse many times, but today it made me think less about controlling my words and more about slowing down long enough to truly listen. Maybe if we listened more, we’d judge less. Maybe we’d find ourselves extending more grace because we’d remember that every person has a story that God already knows, even if we never do.

As I head into another workday, that’s my prayer for my own heart—the desire that lives quietly inside me. I want the Lord to help me see people the way He sees them. I want to be quick to listen, careful with my words, and generous with grace. I won’t always get it right, but I hope that when people leave a conversation with me, they leave feeling respected, valued, and cared for.

After all, we may never know how much one kind word or one patient response means to someone who’s been carrying a heavy burden.

I’d love to hear from you this morning.

Has someone ever shown you unexpected kindness during a difficult season? I’d love to hear that story in the comments.

Thank you for spending a few quiet moments with me today. My hope is that when you leave here, you’ll notice God’s grace in the ordinary moments of your day.

Until tomorrow…

Keep your coffee warm, your Bible close, and your eyes open for the blessings God places in your path today.

I’ll meet you back here tomorrow—with another cup of coffee and another conversation.

❤️ Mandy

Three Hearts Keepsakes