Grace Changes the Conversation
One of the unexpected things that's happened since starting Behind the X's & O's is this...
The more stories I hear...
The slower I become to judge people.
Before the conversation...
You only see the decision.
After the conversation...
You begin to understand the journey.
Understanding doesn't always mean agreeing.
But it almost always changes how you see someone.
Every person is carrying something we can't see.
Battles.
Losses.
Disappointments.
Dreams.
Faith.
Family.
It's easy to form an opinion about someone you've never taken the time to know.
That's one of the reasons I enjoy sitting down with people.
Not because I'm looking for perfect stories.
I'm looking for honest ones.
Every conversation reminds me that people are far more complicated...
And far more remarkable...
Than first impressions allow.
I've also realized it's easier for me to give grace because I've been given so much of it myself.
Not just by God...
But by good people.
People who were patient with me while I was learning.
People who shared their knowledge instead of keeping it to themselves.
People who answered my questions.
People who opened doors for me.
Without that grace, I honestly don't know where I'd be today.
That's one of the reasons I never want to be too quick to judge someone else's journey.
I know what it's like to build something one lesson at a time.
I know what it's like to make mistakes while learning something completely new.
Grace isn't pretending people are perfect.
Grace is remembering that everyone is carrying a story you haven't finished hearing.
The longer we build this business...
The more conversations we have...
The more I realize that grace has shaped my story just as much as hard work has.
God's grace gave me hope.
Good people gave me opportunities.
Now I want to extend that same grace to others.
Sometimes the greatest gift you can give another person isn't your opinion.
It's your willingness to understand before you decide.
— Ruben Escalona
Red Alpha Custom Prints
What Healthy Actually Looks Like
Healthy people don't rush to conclusions. They ask questions. They listen. They leave room for grace because they understand that every person is more than a single decision, a single moment, or a first impression.
The grace you've received has the power to shape the grace you give. Sometimes the greatest way to change a conversation isn't by winning an argument—it's by choosing to understand the person sitting across from you.