None of us sit high enough to look down on anyone.— Author Unknown

I saw this quote on the wall of one of my high school friends. Ironically she and I only glancingly knew of each other back when we were teens but have become closer through the magic of Facebook. I find myself in awe of her wisdom and kind outlook on life and people. Because she lives about fourteen hours away we don’t get many opportunities to visit in person. Nonetheless I just happened to be traveling through her small town in west Texas a while back so I stopped in to talk with her over lunch. 

I have to admit that I had as much fun being with my friend as I enjoyed on the remainder of the trip. She’s a genuine soul who has experienced some hard times in her life but just keeps going strong with the one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. I felt so comfortable with her as though we had been soul sisters for a lifetime. I suppose that it is because the two of us think very much alike due to the kind of life experiences that we have had. 

I grew up in a bubble that my mother tried to create for me and my brothers after our father died. She purchased a modest home in a family friendly neighborhood and essentially devoted herself to sheltering and caring for us. In spite of her efforts was just old enough to understand how difficult her economic situation was so I sometimes worried about her and my brothers. I never brought my fears to the surface because I knew that she would not have wanted me to be anxious. I did my best to help her by trying not to ask for things that would stretch her budget too much. I studied hard to earn a scholarship to the private school that I attended. The bonus in going there was that I wore a uniform and did not need to worry about having stylish clothing. My five blouses, two skirts and blazer took care of my needs for years. 

In spite of vexing about how Mama was going to stretch her meager budget I was never afraid in the neighborhood where I lived. The people were kind and wholesome and always doing things for our little family. We were the recipients of so much kindness from people who were not that much better off than we were. From them I learned to respect hard working folk who repaired cars, installed plumbing, answered phones, delivered mail. They may not have had a great deal of formal education but they were schooled in life. 

Later, when I was a young mother in my twenties I would live in an apartment project surrounded by what I respectfully called the good ole girls. They were women who had PhDs in common sense. They taught me how to cook up a great meal from scraps and what to do if something broke. They were unafraid and able to stand up for themselves in any situation. They were the type of people who would literally run into a dangerous situation without hesitation. I know this is true because I witnessed them standing up to wife beaters and chasing away a man who had assaulted a woman. They were fearless and my own college education paled in comparison to their greatness.

I have worked with children whose families were described as low income or under served. I learned as much from them as I hope they learned from me. They were rich from a wealth of love and attention from their parents who sometimes spoke no English but came to help nonetheless. I saw courage and determination in them that was impressive. 

A story that I have often told is of a time when we visited my grandmother’s neighbors in Arkansas. I have never again witnessed such poverty firsthand but my grandmother insisted that I look beyond the superficial and see and hear them for their inspiring grit. She helped me to see their souls which were rich with goodness and I saw that nothing else about them mattered more. 

My grandmother herself was unable to read or write but she carried a wealth of knowledge in her head than I have acquired. She had no trouble surviving with or without electricity. She was one with nature, showing a reverence for all living creatures that I have never forgotten. 

I have been fortunate to encounter wonderful souls throughout my lifetime. I learned long ago not to judge them on superficialities but rather by the content of their character. I love that my west Texas friend reminded me of that with her quote lest I slip into to bad habit of looking down rather than into a person’s eyes. I love knowing that each of us has something wonderful to offer.