DO NOT ASSUME THE WORST

To make a friend you will not assume the worst about the one you want to befriend. "Love believes all things" or "always trusts." That's what the Living Bible says. Love expects the best to come from people. Most often people live up to expectations and how they are viewed by others. To believe in others as a basic approach to life is mostly viewed as being unrealistic if not naïve. Basic trust in people rewards you many times, whereas being suspicious blocks out potentially good relationships. Jesus Christ, the most perfect of humans and also the most maligned, selected and worked with Judas for three years. He must have known the inner thoughts of this hypocrite, yet he allowed him to hang around. We do not possess the insight of Jesus Christ. So our love must be willing to give the benefit of the doubt, because it is very harmful to relationships to assume the worst. Christmas, a time for generosity, would be an ideal season to stretch out to others whose relationships are meager. You would provide much cheer to their lives.