It's Friday and time to write my blog for the week.

I have a writing prompt this week- thank goodness!

A situation when you were greatly embarrassed .....

Wow, ok.

Here's what happened.

I had recently returned to the United States.

My family had been living in South America, going to British Schools, wearing school uniforms.

My Dad is a minister.

We have no money and now all I have is hand me down clothes from my mother's friend's daughter who is in her twenties now.

School is a miserable place.

There is definitely a different style, and this is a small farming community where many of these kids have grown up together.

Except not me.

I have a new friend from my church.

Her family is wealthy- at lease to me they are.

One day we are at the public pool- it's winter time, and I'm thrilled that I get to swim because I love the water.

I have on my hand me down swim suit that doesn't fit quite right.

The straps button.

I'm in 7th grade, and just developing.

I get out of the pool and my swim suit is down around my waist!

I don't notice until my friend points to me and pulls the top back up.

I could have survived that, but on Monday she starts telling other girls at school about it, who of course laugh.

I am devastated, embarrassed, and now know I was a pity friend.

I suspect she was doing her Christian duty by being nice to the ministers daughter.

We continued to spend time together and she also had an embarrassing experience.

I chose not to share it with other people.

I knew how that felt, and I wouldn't want anyone else to experience that.

My empathy was growing.

I would consider myself a very empathetic person.

I can feel other peoples emotion.

Their pain, triumphs, losses, and successes greatly effect me.

That's a good thing.

We are all human.

We all screw up, make mistakes, experience tragedy and loss.

Those things cause us to learn and grow.

We react.

We let out emotion, say things without thinking, and turn inward.

I am thankful that I can momentarily step into another person's shoes.

With my mind I can process their emotions and give them grace.

We all need grace and understanding.

I will screw up again.

I will make mistakes, let angry words spew from my mouth without thinking, and turn away in anger.

I hope someone will be there with empathy and grace.

I hope they will pursue me, share my pain, and reach out a hand to help me back up.