Often we proffer conculsions about others based on our assumptions. I am as guilty as any in this matter, but was recently challenged by the following poem to question my own conclusions of others.
We don't have to ignor evidence, and I am not speaking of tolerance of wrong doing. I am thinking of those little moments, when someone makes a different decision than our own - not a bad decision, just a different decision. Priorities and responsibilities are given to individuals by God in different ways, a person called to a distant mission field has that priority, but not everyone is called to a distant field of service.Ask yourself today, am I judgingly gently?
Judge Gently
or stumbles along the road,
unless you have worn the shoes he wears
or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,
though hidden away from view,
or the burden he bears, placed on your back
might cause you to stumble too.
Don't sneer at the man who's down today
unless you have felt the blow
that caused his fall or felt the shame
that only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows
that were his if dealt to you,
in the selfsame way, at the selfsame time,
might cause you to stagger too.
