Grace Builds Bridges
JOURNAL ENTRY #35
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026
Today’s Sabbath gave me time to reflect on how each of us is walking a journey uniquely our own. No two paths look exactly alike, and perhaps they’re not meant to.
I found myself thinking about how easy it can be to look at someone else’s way of doing things and quietly compare it to how I would have done it. Sometimes, without realizing it, those comparisons can become criticism. Yet what comes naturally to one person may be difficult for another, and what works for one life may not fit another at all.
The more I reflect on it, the more I realize that my greatest responsibility isn’t correcting someone else’s path — it’s tending to my own heart. It’s much easier to notice what we believe are faults in others than it is to recognize our own. And sometimes, what we see as a fault isn’t one at all. It may simply be someone walking a different road than ours.
I’ve been learning that encouragement builds stronger bridges than criticism ever could. A kind word, sincere praise, or simply allowing someone the space to grow in their own time often accomplishes far more than pointing out what we think should be different.
We all have opinions, but opinions aren’t the same as truth. They’re shaped by our own experiences, our own lessons, and our own perspective. That’s why I’ve been reminding myself to hold my opinions with humility and extend grace wherever I can.
I want my life to be one that speaks louder than my words. Rather than trying to convince others, I’d rather live in a way that quietly reflects hope, kindness, patience, and love. My prayer is that, if someone notices something different, they might simply ask, “How?” and perhaps, in that moment, my own journey can encourage theirs.
I hope you had a peaceful and restful Sabbath.
‘Til next time…
Finding Beauty in the Everyday.
— LHogarth
