Jumping to Conclusions

A friend with whom I always eat lunch refused to meet one day. I kept asking her if she was fasting, but she would not answer. I assumed (always be careful not to assume) that she was avoiding me for some reason, and that was why she would not tell me why she refused to meet.

Later, I found out that her brother had been in court that day and was sentenced for six months seemingly unjustly. She had been fasting in order to direct all her thoughts to her prayers for him during his trial. She did not want to tell me she was fasting, because she did not want to have to explain that her brother may have to go to jail. I felt so bad for accusing her of just wanting to avoid me.

What we perceive is not always what is really going on! Remember to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and that jumping to conclusions is not the best exercise.

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