Turn down the dial of your expectations! It's a simple lesson that has had a powerful impact on my life. When I accepted friends and family just as they are, I vastly improved those relationships. I don't let politics or other view-points bother me. I don't take offense at off-color jokes. And I don't get hurt by unintentional, hurtful remarks. I recognize that God created us all different. We are all unique. And we are all wrong at one time or the other. God didn't create any of us as perfect specimens of goodness or wisdom. We all tend to err and to fail.
Jesus, the Great Teacher, admonished us to forgive 70 times 70! That's a hell-of-alot of forgiving! It's certainly not at all easy to do. But it really has its benefits. I don't harbor any resentments or hatred. Therefore, I am more at peace with every one I meet. I try to be quick to forgive others and I try to be just as quick to ask for forgiveness when I have offended someone. I feel that this compassionate understanding and tolerance of others brings me closer to the Divine Desire for "Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men."

We live in a very cold, cruel world. It is up to each of us to warm it up. Give a little kindness where-ever you go. Be compassionate to those less fortunate. Be sympathetic to those in physical or emotional pain. Be forgiving, because if you think about it, we’ve all fouled up from time to time. We all can use a little mercy. We may have different life-styles, beliefs and politics, but we ought to try to be more understanding, more tolerant of each other. The world needs a lot more peace and cooperation. There is enough hatred and violence. There can never be enough kindness.