Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. “But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!” (Genesis 39:17–18).
We hear these words and immediately hate the slave for what he did. However, if you read the story, you discover the story is all a lie. Joseph (the slave) ran from the attempts of Potiphar's wife to seduce him. The charges were all out of vindictive anger.'
Why bring this up? Because we are all too quick to make judgments before we hear the entire story. You have probably had people say things about you that were not true (just as I have had). What you longed for was someone to ask you about the situation before they went around repeating lies. How quick we are to believe bad things people say about others.
Remember how it felt to be condemned when you were not guilty? The next time someone trashes someone to you remember those feelings. Do what you wish others would do for you . . . go and talk to the person. You can start simply by saying, "Can I talk to you about something that I heard?) (You don't have to say from whom you heard it.)
Caring enough to get both sides of a story is part of what we call "love."
Both Sides of the Story 1.9.21
Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. “But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!” (Genesis 39:17–18).
We hear these words and immediately hate the slave for what he did. However, if you read the story, you discover the story is all a lie. Joseph (the slave) ran from the attempts of Potiphar's wife to seduce him. The charges were all out of vindictive anger.'
Why bring this up? Because we are all too quick to make judgments before we hear the entire story. You have probably had people say things about you that were not true (just as I have had). What you longed for was someone to ask you about the situation before they went around repeating lies. How quick we are to believe bad things people say about others.
Remember how it felt to be condemned when you were not guilty? The next time someone trashes someone to you remember those feelings. Do what you wish others would do for you . . . go and talk to the person. You can start simply by saying, "Can I talk to you about something that I heard?) (You don't have to say from whom you heard it.)
Caring enough to get both sides of a story is part of what we call "love."