I want you to think about some of the big signs with big messages that I bet you wish you could wear around your neck. Sometimes so that people would be more gentle or even that you could put around the neck of someone you love. So that you didn’t have to go into a big long story to defend yourself or someone else. So that people would just stop judging and and just be kind.
-I am in pain.
-I just lost my job.
-I haven’t eaten in 3 days.
-I am going to lose my house.
-My child died in a tragic accident.
-My depression is back.

WHAT IF we could all wear a sign that said what WE REALLY MEANT? What if we could go straight past the small talk or the masks and we could actually go straight to the heart of the matter? What if our friends and family wore signs like this?
-I’m going through a painful divorce.
-I just became a widow
-My child has cancer, & it’s bad.
We would treat each other differently.

We should just try to imagine it - that when a friend is quiet…or not showing up to stuff she usually shows up to….or acting a little “off”….or a family member is wearing pajamas to the grocery store for weeks on end……or not answering the phone…..or the lawn is not mowed…..
Whatever it is……….
IT IS A SIGN. It is not a sign that can be read in words and letters, but it is a sign that someone needs to be treated gently…that they need help….most of all, that they need love, understanding…and that they DEFINITELY DO NOT need to be judged.

Let’s be gentle with each other.
Let’s read each other’s signs.