If you are surrounded by a community that is both loving and encouraging, it may be hard to face the realization that not everyone in your life has come from a welcoming and loving home. Childhood and the way one was raised has a huge impact on the way one behaves, their morals, and the way they see and treat other people around them. People with trauma, abuse, and brokenness may take longer to heal or may have trouble heading into the future with a clear and fully mature mindset. It is important to remember that it is absolutely impossible to know exactly how much someone has gone through by simply looking at their life from an outward perspective.
The way in which one is raised can affect them in both positive and negative ways. There are a multitude of setbacks and struggles that can create divisions in homes while growing up. These struggles in a home can then be seen in school, sports, and clubs that one is involved in. These hardships can easily lead into adulthood and take a toll on one’s marriage, jobs, and even the way one parents their own children one day. Unfortunately, the reality is that we live in a divided world. This is a hard truth.
Despite brokenness, we cannot forget to acknowledge the amazing people who do teach others how to love well. It is so important to love others well because we never know the full story of what someone is going through on the inside. Not everyone grew up learning about love, how it felt, or how to express it, so showing it when you can, can make a difference. It is not an assignment or a check box; it is so much more important than that. It is oftentimes surprising to me how many people are genuinely seeking love and connection. This constant searching and seeking may be dependent on one’s childhood and the way in which they were raised. Broken families and divided homes may have a substantial impact on the way someone loves and how they adapt to new situations they are thrown into in this life.
Be open and generous with your heart and your intentions and realize that you can make a difference in the way you behave and treat the people around you! Simple, small acts of kindness are oftentimes underestimated; but, they are extremely valuable to those who have unfortunately walked a rocky road. We never know what someone is going through, so it is easiest to go in with no expectations and a pure heart. Will this fix everything? No. However, we can control what is directly in front of us. Meet someone new and communicate with others, assuming they might need a hug during such a wild time that our world is going through. Be confident in the way you love others and in the impact you have the ability to make. You will never know how much someone needed that smile, hug, or kind comment you gave.