Assuming the best

I have a list of "to blog" items, but this keeps coming to my mind. So, pictures of adorable kids and fun things we've been up to are forthcoming. In the meantime, a few of my thoughts...

Last week, Mike and I were at a Wendy's together and as we stood in line, it was obvious we were going to be there for a while. The young man behind the counter was talking himself through each order, careful to get everything correct. The line was getting long, but people were patient, understanding and helpful. At one point he addressed those of us in line and said, "Sorry for the wait. Thanks for being patient, I'm trying my best." I thought he was so cute, so transparent, really just trying his best! He was the kind of guy who probably won't ever own the Wendy's or even run the Wendy's, but he can take the orders if people will be patient, understanding, and helpful.

As I stood in line thinking about this hard working young man, I was reminded of the single, most important advice I've ever been given. When Mike and I were temple workers in the Chicago temple, we met with the temple president as part of our training. In that brief meeting with him he said, "Always assume everyone is doing their very best." It sounds so simple, but there are so many times in life when our feathers get ruffled, we get annoyed, we want others to be more efficient, more understanding, have more common sense... be more like us. But if we can assume that others are doing their very best, we will have very few problems with those around us. We'll feel less frustration, more compassion, who doesn't want that? So here's to assuming that we're all trying our best, giving others the benefit of the doubt, being a little kinder, more understanding, and all around just nice.