YOU Are WRONG!!

I braved the stores today with everyone else in San Antonio.  I made exchanges and purchases and walked around watching people frantically filling their baskets with 50% off items.  I avoided allowing the sale to lure me in except for the purchase of a beautiful black dress cape for Chloe.  After the craziness of the stores at The Rim, we drove thru Chick-Fil-A where a long line always greets its customers.  The line moves quickly, but there is still a wait while twenty cars file through.  I am patiently waiting my turn with five people behind me and I am about to enter the line when a woman in a black Tahoe pulls in the break in the line.  The break was intended for cross traffic to avoid a complete traffic jam.  

I did a quick honk to get her attention and pointed to the long line behind me.  She made no face.  It was almost as if she had no idea what I was talking about.  I whined and moaned about how rude it was for her to pull in front of a long line of cars who were patiently waiting their turn.  Chloe was in the back seat getting fired up and agreeing with me.  At one point she wanted to jump out of the cars and knock on the lady's window.  I continued to comment, "I just don't understand why this lady thinks it is ok to cut in front of five other people?"  My mother said, "Maybe she was raised differently.  You never know."  I reply, "Yeah, raised by wolves."  My mother told me to get over it and to calm down as I was setting a bad example for my daughter.  She was right, but whining felt so good!  I was two cars behind her by the time I arrived to the window.  The girl at the window asked about my order to make sure she was handing me the correct items.  I acknowledged the order was correct and she said, "The lady two cars ahead of you said not to sweat the small stuff and paid for your order."

I was unsure what to think or say.  I thanked the girl at the window and drove away.  My mom said, "I'm so embarrassed!!"  "Why?" I responded.  "I didn't tell her anything bad I just pointed at the long line of waiting cars."  Part of me was frustrated and the other part of me was sad.  Frustrated because she should have paid for all five of the cars she cut off and sad because I was sweating the small stuff.  I am a believer in justice, but God is clear about not judging.

Matthew 7:1-5

New International Version (NIV)

Judging Others

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

This scripture is so great and it paints a lovely picture of our(MY) hypocrisy.  His speck of sawdust and my plank.  Ha!  So true.  My mom was right on target to reprimand me for being a brat.  I was a very bad example of God's love to my child.  I have to admit, it is never fun to go to your child and admit wrongdoing.  I should have been the adult to begin with and teach her a lesson in love instead of judgement.  Oh well, live and learn.  You will be happy to know I was not struck by lightning physically, unfortunately the strike to my heart was far worse.  So, I offer two lessons for you today: 1)  Don't sweat the small stuff and 2) Don't judge, lest you be judged.

I hope you got some great deals today and I also hope you didn't have to apologize to your child for being a brat.  I am thankful for a mother who is wise in the things of the Lord and often helps me avoid the pitfalls(of which I usually don't avoid) (Day32).  Goodnight Friends!