Oordeel versigtig

“Judge Softly”

“Pray, don’t find fault with the man that limps, Or stumbles along the road. Unless you have worn the moccasins he wears, Or stumbled beneath the same load.

There may be tears in his soles that hurt Though hidden away from view. The burden he bears placed on your back May cause you to stumble and fall, too.

Don’t sneer at the man who is down today Unless you have felt the same blow That caused his fall or felt the shame That only the fallen know.”

- by Mary T. Lathrap, 1895

In hierdie uittreksels uit die gedig van die Mary T Lathrap herinner sy my om versigtig te wees om nie ander te oordeel nie. Sy wys my hoe maklik dit is om te oordeel, terwyl ek nie hulle omstandighede ken en wat binne hulle gedagtes en harte aangaan nie.

“Just walk a mile in his moccasins Before you abuse, criticize and accuse”

If just for one hour, you could find a way To see through his eyes, instead of your own muse.”

Jesus waarsku my in Johannes 7:24 om nie te oordeel volgens wat ek aan die buitekant sien nie. Die verhaal van die Samaritaanse vrou by die put is vir my 'n wonderlike voorbeeld van liefde, aanvaarding en verlossing. Die beste van alles is nie net aanvaar Jesus haar nie, maar Hy aanvaar my ook!

“Just walk a mile in his moccasins Before you abuse, criticize and accuse. I believe you’d be surprised to see That you’ve been blind and narrow-minded, even unkind.”

Slegs God weet wat in ‘n persoon se hart aangaan. Slegs Hy weet hoe daardie persoon sukkel om staande te bly. Hy ken hulle moedeloosheid en bekommernis, Hy steek Sy hand van liefde en genade uit na almal, ook na my.

“Brother, there but for the grace of God go you and I. Just for a moment, slip into his mind and traditions And see the world through his spirit and eyes Before you cast a stone or falsely judge his conditions.”

Telkens, wanneer ek my dag begin deur stil te word met persoonlike Bybelstudie en gebed, herinner Christus my aan die genade (onverdiende guns), wat ek ontvang het. Dat ek niks uit my eie verdien nie en dat ek my veroordelende ingesteldheid kan bely. Wanneer Hy daar my klipharde hart uithaal en my ‘n hart van liefde gee, kan ek na ander met die bril van 1 Korintiërs 13 kyk. Dan stel die Heilige Gees my in staat om met sagmoedige nederigheid, vol begrip en ontferming, genade te betoon aan die mense, wat anders as ek is.

“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave

In other people’s lives, our kindnesses and generosity.

Take the time to walk a mile in his moccasins.”