Saturday, August 01, 2009

making an assumption...

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an assumption as:
a: an assuming that something is true

b: a fact or statement (as a proposition, axiom, postulate, or notion) taken for granted

We have all heard, saw, or read something and made up our minds about the intent or meaning of the situation. We are all guilty of making assumptions without complete knowledge of the circumstances. It is so easy to do. We read something, we attach a meaning, generalization or an intent behind the words that may or may not have been intended by the writer. We take the words or actions and we begin to create an ugliness or evilness behind it. The words or the action may have been perfectly innocent in nature, but we WANT it to be something else; something unpleasant, so we concoct a scenario, filling in the gaps with our innuendos to make it what we WANT it to be.

And then what do we do? Do we call our relatives and tell them~~because it seems as if many feel it is not gossip if who you are telling is a family member! Do we throw accusations out at the person who said or wrote the words WITHOUT getting the facts? Or, do we do the Christian thing and contact the person PRIVATELY to obtain the facts? Do we reassess the situation AFTER getting the facts and then proceed with whatever actions are needed? Do we allow God's principle of loving one another be our guide as we speak/email/write to one another?

Assumptions are NOT based on facts. They are NOT based on a complete knowledge of the situation. They are NOT based on a complete understanding. They are one sided. Do the loving, right thing with information you obtain~~either get the details from the individual involved or let it go; because usually it DOESN'T CONCERN YOU ANYWAY!!!

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14