Sharing Simple Things

JUDGE GENTLY

An event happened to me recently which made the following poem so real and personal to me. 

A lady attended church off and on for a while.  She always came in late and was dressed in beautiful clothes, yet they did not seem to match her or be a combination that was normally worn to church. 

Because she sat in another area of the church, we had never met.  She always came and sat with a couple that she knew.  She appeared sad and was quiet and reserved. 

One week she came in and the couple with whom she regularly sat had left after Sunday School.  She looked around and did not see them and I motioned to her and told her they had left because they did not feel well.  She turned and walked out the door. 

I realized that I should have invited her to sit with us. So I got up to go ask her to come sit with us and she was coming back into the auditorium.  I told her we would love to have her sit with us and 

she came and sat by me.  She listened attentively. 

At the end of the service I asked her name and told her she had such beautiful clothes.  Her response was that her ex-husband was very abusive and bought her beautiful clothes to make up for it. 

How easy it is to look at someone and form opinions when we do not even know what they have gone through.  Jesus was a person of compassion and we are to be Christ-like.  I know that in this present world we must be careful, but if we follow God’s leading when we someone in need, we can maybe be just the one that can reach them in their need.

I found out her address and sent her a card telling her that I was glad she had sat with us. That I knew she must have had a very rough time in life and that I would be praying for her.  If she comes to your mind it would be nice if you too would say a prayer for her.  God knows who she is so you don’t even need a name.

This brought back to my mind the poem below.

Judge Gently

Pray don't find fault with the man who limps

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.

Don't be too harsh with the man who sins

or pelt him with word or stone,

unless you are sure, yea, doubly sure,

that you have no sins of your own -

for you know perhaps if the tempter's voice

should whisper as softly to you

as it did to him when he went astray,

it might cause you to stumble too. 

Author Unknown

My card I want to share is

Have a wonderful week.