When I was a little girl, my grandmother “Mamie” was the first to teach me the lesson that two people can see the same thing two different ways, based on their own perception.
She had fun with me by showing me this photo and asking me what I saw. Scared by the witch that I saw in the photo, she comforted me by assuring me that it was actually a photo of a pretty lady wearing a necklace and fancy hat with a feather.
As hard as I looked, I couldn’t see it the way she did. I kept seeing the witch.
The more she encouraged me to keep looking, I did because I trusted her and I knew Mamie wouldn’t hurt me or lie to me. As I continued to study the photo, trying to see it the way she did, suddenly…there she was. The beautiful young lady was right there…but wait…then she was gone and back came the ugly witch.
My eyes seemed to play tricks on me until I used my will and focused ONLY on the pretty lady.
This was happening because I was faltering back and forth based on my own personal belief of what I was seeing. My perception was that the photo was of a witch, and Mamie’s was that the photo was of a beautiful lady. We were BOTH correct.
We all see with our BELIEFS, not our eyes. How something is perceived is as different as that persons beliefs. Therefore, to be fair to others we should remember to give each other grace when we don’t see things the same way.
After all, our way is not always the best way or the right way.
How often have you just REACTED to someone when they didn’t see things your way?
