by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Perhaps, like me, you have been told not to overgeneralize and use words like never, always, and everyone, because there are exceptions. We may feel as if there aren’t any exceptions, but if we look at the situation carefully, there usually are.

One of my college professors told the story of the time he and his wife were having a house guest visit. His wife wanted my professor to clean his office saying, “You never clean that room.” To which my professor responded, “Never? I cleaned in back in … ”

For remembering there was an exception to his wife’s never, and he had indeed cleaned his office, my teacher spent that night on the living room couch.

Sometimes we might feel as if God never hears our prayers. Or believe others always get the breaks and we don’t. Or think everyone else has life easier. We feel as if everything is against us.

When we step back and honestly review our past, don’t we find there are exceptions to our never, always and everyone?

We might say, “You never listen to me.” “You always leave your things lying about.” “Everyone else gets to go to the party.” but is that really true?

Perhaps when those words pop to the forefront of our thinking, we should pause a second and consider if we are using the words never, always, and everyone correctly.

When we listen to God’s instructions and allow him to guide us along the best pathway for our life, we can be confident when we say God will never leave us, he is always by our side, and loves everyone the same, those aren’t overgeneralizations.

Do you tend to overgeneralize?

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I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress. Psalms 32:8 (TLB)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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