I’m not going to start this off by sharing the blame and saying “well, we’ve all done it but…” So here is my honest truth about what happened and what I learned from it.
I was driving and arrived at a stop, and I saw a woman walking by with a sign that read
“Single mom, Laid off. Any help is appreciated. Thank you and God bless.”
I’ve seen this woman many times. Sometimes with a sign, sometimes without. She has beautiful hazel eyes and brown hair. She never looks disgruntled, just maybe a little sad, and always seems to be thinking deeply about something. Perhaps fighting her pride as she walks by, hoping for someone to give her something. Anything.
It’s a route I frequent, so seeing her was no surprise. However, this time, it was different. I saw her walking my way in the rear view mirror.
But THIS TIME I saw her whip out a CELLPHONE! Immediately I began to judge. “How could she be out here asking for money and assistance, but she got a smartphone?” (That sucker was clean too!!) “I bet she has to pay a phone bill every month. If she can afford that, there’s NO WAY she’s out here honestly seeking help and asking people for money.”
She gets to the end of the road before the crosswalk, and then she whipped out that cardboard sign. She opened it up and began to walk back the other way. After reading the sign, I’m like “there’s no way I’m giving her money. Absolutely not.” She continues to walk down the road…and the craziest thing happened. Against what would’ve been my advice, one driver lets down the window and gives her money. She looks at it…puts it in her pocket, and continues to walk down the road. Before she could take four steps, another driver lets down the window and gives her money, and then another. There were probably four people who gave. It was like a contagious flow of compassion. Almost like the people couldn’t avoid helping if they tried. I’m sure there would’ve been more people giving had the light not turned green.
As soon as the second person gave, my heartbeat started to increase in intensity. The Spirit was fighting my flesh because the first emotion I attempted to disagree with was love. The Holy Spirit doesn’t like roommates, so either love or selfishness had to go. This was the purest spirit of compassion. Motivated by someone who looked past a situation or a humanly basic identification and just gave to someone in need.
This made me look within myself and it’s like “Dang. I was straight up judgemental.” Who am I to decipher what someone may or may not be lying about? Who am I to say that someone is or isn’t deserving of love, or help, or even a word of encouragement? My action of judgement made me sick. And it truly disappointed me. No matter how you look at it, it was wrong and so far against what I stand for.
No one on this earth can 100% justify anyone’s actions-especially if they haven’t walked in that person’s shoes. If they haven’t completely seen that person’s situation. If they have zero relationship with that individual. We were created to love. To help one another. To at least smile at one another.
Proverbs 3:27-28 speaks to this:
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.”
Proverbs 3:27-28
We are all one. Created by one. Meant to live with love, and never isolating the one.
The next time you see someone apparently struggling or going through a hardship, think about them. But with love and compassion. If you have it, give it. If not, maybe crack the window and encourage them. “I hope things turn around for you” “I’m praying for you” “God bless you” Doing something helps. Doing nothing does nothing. And judging someone before having any understanding makes your pool shallow, leaving space for you and you alone. Creating a legacy of selfishness and potential loneliness.
Don’t do what I did. Help before judging. I didn’t even smile at her. I was too busy decoding her situation. Love always wins. Even if you lose. Because the more you lose, the more space you create to be filled with love.
Thanks for reading.
Then they will also answer, saying ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
Matthew 25:44-45
The Priority List 