Realizing my own selfishness

I have recently experienced a significant heartbreak and have been traipsing my way through the weeds to what I hope one day will lead to a path that seems a little more clear. The day after the heartbreak unfolded I was walking through Wal-Mart in search of whatever had drug me there in the first place, on a day where I would have much rather been curled up in bed. I began to feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness even though I was in one of the most crowded stores in the city. As I continued to shuffle up and down the isles, I was struck by how it seemed like for everyone else life was business as usual, yet it felt like for me, my world stood completely still. I selfishly began to think about how the people that I walked past had no idea that my heart was aching or that I had cried myself to sleep the night before. A few days later as I thought again about my trip to Wal-Mart, I realized that I had completely "missed it". I began to think about all the people I had numbly walked past who may have been feeling that same sense of loneliness. I realized that I undoubtedly walked right by people who were also broken hearted. Perhaps they were struggling financially or had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, maybe they were in the middle of a divorce or had just lost a loved one, perhaps they were stuck in patterns of addiction. Whatever the heartache...I had missed it. I was so focused on my own pain that I failed to remain sensitive to those around me. I was smacked in the face with my own selfishness. I know we all fall short in life, but I learned an important lesson that day. We never know what those around us are going through; weather it be your best friend or the store clerk behind the counter. I pray that I can extend grace and love to all people even when I am hurting as well, just as my God extends to me.
The quotes below are 3 of my favorites and remind me of God's grace and truth.

"Right now, the Lord is in the person next to you, in front of you, behind you. When you go home tonight and open the door of your home, the Lord will be present in each person there. Sometimes He's buried there. Sometimes He's bound hand and foot there, but He's there. And you and I, my friend, have been given the gift of faith to detect His presence there, and the Holy Spirit has been poured out into our hearts that we might love Him there, because the meaning of our religion is love."
~Brennan Manning

"Our mood may shift, but God's doesn't. Our mind may change, but God's doesn't. Our devotion may falter, but God's never does. Even if we're faithless, HE is faithful."
~Max Lucado


"People more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone."
~ Audrey Hepburn