On trial

I’ve heard this little sing songy poem on many occasions throughout the years:

Sometimes I’m happy. Sometimes I’m blue. My disposition depends on you

We have all known people who are up one minute and down the next. Dealing with them can be exhausting and frustrating.

A temptation is to unwittingly imitate their behavior by judging them each time we are around them.

For example, if we have a pleasurable experience with someone, we cannot but help to sing their praises.

If however we have a bad experience with someone, we are ready to slander their name to everyone we meet.

If someone is kind to us or compliments us, we like them. If they are critical of us, we crucify them.

Simply put, we put people on trial every time we are around them.

This isn’t kind, fair or the behavior of a friend.

We all have good days and bad. Good moments and bad.

A true friend does not re-determine the relationship after each interaction.