Burning Beneath

Have you ever walked through a quiet neighborhood, letting your eyes wander over the different doors of every house you pass? Each one is unique—some are grand and inviting, others modest and worn, some freshly painted, and others chipped by time and weather. But as you observe them, have you ever wondered what lies beyond? What kind of stories unfold behind those closed doors?

Behind one, a family might be gathered around the dinner table, laughter filling the air. Behind another, someone could be sitting in silence, battling thoughts they don’t dare speak aloud. Some doors hide joy, others pain. Some shield love, while others conceal sorrow, loss, or unspoken fears.

And then there are the people—those who step out from behind those doors and move through the world, carrying their unseen burdens. The woman who seemed distant at the café? Maybe she just lost someone she loved. The man who snapped at you in line? He might be drowning in responsibilities you’ll never know about. The child throwing a tantrum in the store? Maybe home isn’t a place of comfort for them.

We often take things personally—someone’s sharp tone, their impatience, their lack of warmth. But not every reaction is about us. More often than not, it’s about the weight they’re carrying, the struggles they can’t set down, the emotions they haven’t found a way to process.

So before you react, before you assume, pause. Extend kindness, even when it’s not returned. Show compassion, even when it’s undeserved. Because behind every door is a story you haven’t read, a reality you haven’t lived, and a heart carrying something heavier than you can see.

Not everything is about you. But kindness? That’s always about the kind of person you choose to be.