“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5

Dear God, my wife were talking yesterday and one of our topics was wondering how we had changed and developed as people and your children over the last 25 years. What have you taught us and how have we grown?

First, we pretty much figured out that we couldn’t answer it effectively for each other. I could ask her pointed questions and she could ask me questions, but it was up to us to ultimately come up with our own answers for ourselves.

Second, for me, I think the last 25 years have brought a lot of humility and less judging. Between my experiences in parenting and the work I’ve done in the nonprofit sector, I’ve learned the limitations of my own abilities and the abilities of others; I’ve learned life, in all its phases, is harder than it looks; and I’ve learned people bring their own experience, scars, and even trauma into situations and make their decisions accordingly. They might do the wrong thing. They might make me very angry, but that doesn’t mean the are being malicious. Almost always, they are making the best decision they know how to make in the moment.

Father, thank you for what you’ve taught me so far. I’m not saying I don’t atoll judge people. You know I do. But there is at least room now for me to hear the Holy Spirit’s conviction as I try to parse through situations. Guide me through this day as I interact with others.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen