“Judgements prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances.” Dr.Wayne W. Dyer

I’ve always tried not to be too quick to judge people.  I’m going to admit right off the bat that I have not always managed it very well though.   It’s not always easy and sometimes I’ve fallen into the trap of labeling people.  It’s easy to use a label as a summary of someone’s perceived character but it may not be accurate.  Wayne Dyer’s quote above is a really good reminder that by doing so you could be missing the good stuff.  Judgement comes from the formation of an opinion…just an opinion and we all know how easily those can change, especially if you don’t have the whole story.

Recently I walked past an elderly man who asked me for change.  He said it so quietly that I thought I didn’t hear him right.  I walked past him and started to get into my car while I was thinking “did he just ask me for money?”  I stopped then and watched him for a moment and saw him hold his hand out to someone else who walked right past him.  He looked like he was in his seventies.  I wondered how he could find himself in that predicament so late in his life.  I walked back to him then and gave him the change I had with me.  He thanked me and blessed me but it was in his eyes that I saw how deeply grateful he was.  As I drove away I hoped that he would put the little amount I had given him to good use but then I realized that it wasn’t really my business at that point.  All I could do was to wish him well.

When I find myself falling into the trap of judging others I hope the following short presentation will pop into my mind reminding me that “There but for the grace of God go I.”  I hope you enjoy “Beth’s Story”.

p.s.  Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!