“If you judge people you have no time to love them.” Mother Teresa

“It’s nice to meet you ma’am.” He extended his hand and had a fabulous handshake for a 15 year old. I was impressed.

BUT…

I had seen him earlier when I arrived to teach my Friday classes. He just did not “look” the part of a homeschooler. He had long hair, well past his shoulders, and ripped jeans and a skullish thing on his t-shirt. Unaware at the time, this boy would find his way into my art history class that I teach on Friday afternoons.

I knew at the time I’d done it, you know the voice, that subtle voice of God that let’s you know in your heart you have just done something, something that you aren’t proud of. I had done something that I TRY not to do.

I HAD JUDGED A BOOK BY IT’S COVER and his name was Dylan. I saw him that morning, and I judged him in my heart, and it wasn’t until he arrived in my class that I was convicted in my judgment. He was the most polite and interested student I had in my class, a really neat kid! He even came to my defense when another student began to be a bit disrespectful; “come on man, Ms. Lori is trying to teach here.” He asked questions, and was involved in the discussions, and after class ended, as we were getting ready to leave, he made a point to tell me, “Ms. Lori, I really liked your class today, I’ll be back.” WOW….talk about convicted.

As homeschoolers, we often find ourselves ‘judged,’ and it is NEVER a pleasant feeling. Sometimes it’s by the outside world, and other times it’s within our own homeschool community or extended families. Have you ever found yourself judged on the curriculum you’ve chosen or even on your decision to homeschool? A lesson was learned that day, one that I T~R~Y daily to teach my children.

I know the verse well,  “Do not judge, lest you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1

Funny thing is that if you come to my house, I remove all the covers of my books, they just bother me, so if I arrive home with a book with a cover, it’s removed and immediately thrown into the trash. They all look the SAME sitting on my shelf! Perhaps the reminder was just what was needed that day, you can’t know what is inside the books on my shelf, unless you OPEN them.

There is a difference between “judging” and “discerning.” Judging is what we do when we don’t have all of the facts to be discerning. There was no discerning that day, I simply had judged.

Jesus was clear, never a “judge some, embrace others” from Him. He lived the perfect life of not judging others. He gave them all a chance. He LOVED the unlovely, He spoke to the LOWLY and He himself likely had long hair.

Oh yeah, a lesson was learned that day, and I shared it with my children. I wanted them to understand how easily we can slip into those ‘judgmental attitudes,” even their mom.

I made a friend that day, and I learned a lesson, one that I did not realize that I needed to learn, but HE did…and He graciously taught me to see that my heart needed an adjustment. I’m thankful that HE did! I look forward to seeing Dylan on Friday’s….he’s a great kid, a great heart, and a deep thinker…I’d have missed that if I had continued to only look at what was on the outside. Judging a book by its cover, it’s NEVER wise.

Father,
Thank you for the little lessons that you place on my path to gently show me how I can become more like you in all I do and say. Help me as I walk daily to see others from the inside out. Help me to remove the covers that often interfere with how I see others. Help me to always be discerning without ever being judgmental. Please continue to remind me when I fall short with the words of Matthew, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” You never judge, you are always there with an open and loving heart, how I desire that. With your help Father, I can remove all ugly judgmental attitudes from my spirit, where I can see each of your creations as YOU see them. Thank you Father for the lesson and for your constant patience with me.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen

Lori is a 5th year homeschool mom to 3. Currently she homeschools an 9th grader, a 7th grader and a 5th grader. Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. It’s in the daily details of life that she is continually inspired! Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give and at Internet Cafe Devotions.