Intention and Perception, do they Match Up???

Have you ever found that what you are trying to say, just somehow can get lost in translation?
That what you are intending to say, just gets perceived in a different way?

There is one occasion that I can remember when it’s completely understandable for a possible misunderstanding of what I was thinking, to have occurred.

It was a long time ago now, when I was having a meal with a friend. My friend’s son, who was very young at the time, had just put a large amount of hot Bolognese sauce into his mouth, that was too much, and to hot for his little mouth. I saw it immediately, and then inwardly panicked.

Unfortunately I had no idea for how to deal with the situation, so I just sat there, inwardly panicking.
The only thing that I could think of doing, was to make my friend aware of the situation. So I just called my friend and pointed him towards his son.

My friend was distracted with other things that was going on at the table, so it took a bit of effort to get his attention.
Unfortunately for me, as I pointed my friend towards his son, I could feel this silly grin spreading across my face.
Let’s be clear, I didn’t find the situation funny in any way, but was instead panicked and very concerned for my friend’s son, who was clearly in pain. But I could feel this silly grin was spreading across my face, as I was pointing out the situation, to my friend. I can only think that it was my panicked state of mind, coming out, in the most unhelpful way. 😦

My friend saw his son, and then asked, “Is the food too hot?” Which received a distraught nod, to which my friend said, “Spit it out then!”
Which his son did.
Finally, my friend’s son, got the relief that he so desperately needed.

I just thought, “Why couldn’t I have thought of doing that!!??”
(Panicked state of mind, was probably the answer to that one.)

My friend was distracted by something else that was going on at the table, and nothing more was said about what had just gone on.
(I had no idea if my friend noticed the inappropriate grin, or not.)

I can still remember thinking, where did that silly grin come from, and why?
I can still understand how my friend could have thought that I was laughing at his son’s misfortune, when the truth was the complete opposite, and all that I had, was this panicked concern and worry, for his son.

I can fully understand that my intention of trying to point out the situation, to bring a source of help to the situation, could have been completely misunderstood as, something to be laughed about. (Which it wasn’t.)

What I intended, could have very easily been perceived as something very different.

This, bit of a long tale, is to point out that, sometimes, what you are perceiving, could be very different, to what is intended to be there.

If we are seeing something that is upsetting us in some way, could we try asking ourselves, “Am I missing something here?”
If needed, could we try and ask for help, from Our Lord God, who sees, and understands all the details, that much better, than we do.