Judgment

You ever experience those moments when someone says something that hits straight to the heart, almost as if it was directly intended for you? Today was one of those days.

Passing judgment is something I fall prey to very easily. Many times I find my mind filled with snarky thoughts and assumptions toward people, when I have nothing to base it on but what is happening in the present. The problem with condemning people is that we have no idea what drove those people to their situations and conditions. We only see what is put before our eyes, not the entire story. 

I like to use the analogy of puzzle pieces. If I were to see a small section of a puzzle that was brown and murky looking, I would automatically run to the conclusion that the picture would be one of ugliness with no aesthetic appeal. But, if I stayed a little longer, put some time and energy into completing the puzzle, I would find that it was actually part of something beautiful--a lush, colorful garden perhaps, where the brown was the necessary dirt the flowers grew in.

This same situation applies to our visions of people, at least for me it does. If I just took a little time and compassion on people, I would see them for their beauty and realize that we all have a little dirt in our lives. We all do.

In light of the Christmas season, I am going to strive to be more like Christ. The greatest gift I can give to Him is to love with charity and fullness of heart as he did. That means no more judgmental thoughts and words, and more looking into the lives of others with compassion to see how I can help them.