"Judge tenderly, if you must.
There is usually a side you have not heard,
a story you know nothing about,
and a battle waged that you do not have to fight."
Yes, let's be tender,
If we must judge.
But, must we judge?
Can't we just be tender?
We have it within us
To be tender and compassionate
Even in our thoughts.
Beginning with our thoughts.
We can be empathetic,
With gracious understanding,
Even when we don't know the pains
or the struggles of another person.
Because it can be enough to know that human life,
As precious and awesome a gift it is,
Is also very hard at times
For every one of us.
When we catch ourselves
About to judge someone today,
Let's pause, inhale slowly, deeply,
And hold the breath for a moment.
Then let the judgment go
With the exhale.
Let's intend to let all judgments go.
We don't know what burden this person
And
that person
May be carrying.
We don't know the betrayal,
or the diagnosis
or the loss of a job,
or a house, or a loved one.
We do know that we are asked,
Commanded actually,
To love one another.
And to judge
not.
Let's obey this.
With faith, hope, and love,
Charlene
THE TWELFTH GIFT IS FAITH.
May you believe.
- from The Twelve Gifts of Birth
