Judging favorably needn't end with people. Situations, too, can be judged favorably by looking for the good within them. This is beautifully illustrated in the following:

I AM THANKFUL FOR

I am thankful for:

The mess to clean after a party
because it means I have been surrounded by friends,
the taxes I pay
because it means that I'm employed.
the clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means I have enough to eat.
my shadow who watches me work
because it means I am out in the sunshine.
a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing
because it means I have a home.
the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means I am capable of walking,
all the complaining I hear about our government
because it means we have freedom of speech.
my huge heating bill
because it means I am warm.
the man behind me in synagogue who sings off key
because it means that I can hear.
the piles of laundry and ironing
because it means my loved ones are nearby.
the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours
because it means that I'm alive
weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day
because it means I have been productive.

(Submitted by Barbara Mandelbaum)

The Other Side of the Story Archives

Based on "The Other Side of the Story" by Mrs. Yehudis Samet, ArtScroll Series

Do you have a story to share?

Were you in a situation where there was the potential to misjudge a person, but there really was a valid explanation? Has a friend or a relative ever told you how they were in such a situation?

Share you stories with us for inclusion in future columns of The Other Side of the Story.

To submit your story, send it to info@ohr.edu. (To insure proper handling, put "Other Side" in the subject line of your message).

Subscribe to The Other Side of the Story via PointCast

The Ohr Somayach Home Page is hosted by TeamGenesis