Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 7:1-5

Matthew 5: 43-48

Love for Enemies
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies^[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 7:1-5
Judging Others
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For 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? 4How 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? 5You 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.

Why are we always so quick to judge people? Why do we question others' Christianity and/or salvation? Can we see their hearts? Do we live their lives? Especially, why are we so quick to judge those we don't know?

It's hard for people to step into another's shoes; I get that. It's hard for me, too. But when someone has been trying and trying to have a baby, it's not just easy to say "Ok God this is what you've planned for me. I feel like you want me to be a mother, but apparently this isn't what you've planned. Hunky dory." So when pregnancy after pregnancy happens to others, it's hard on this person. Very hard. She's disappointed, not bitter. Upset, not selfish. She's happy for those other couples who will whole-heartedly welcome a little one into their homes. She just hopes for the same thing.

When you've been blessed with a child, like I have, it's hard for me to put myself into my friend's shoes.
I don't know what it's like to take test after test only to have them come up negative. I don't know what it's like to be poked and prodded by doctors as they try to figure out "what's wrong." I don't know what it's like to sit by while everyone gives advice on how to get pregnant. I don't know what it's like to have in-laws that don't understand and therefore are not supportive. I don't know what it's like to have my heart crushed month after month.

I do know what it's like to be the friend of someone who has gone through this, who is going through this. I know some days there's the taste of bitterness. Some days there is anger. More days there is sadness. Some days there is regret. Some days there is numbness. Some days there is nothing. There is also disappointment.

I also know there is hope. There is determination. There is elation for friends who are welcoming a baby into the world. There is love. There is life. There is hope of adoption and pregnancy. There is hope of holding a child in her arms, of seeing her husband hold their child in his arms. I know that there is much prayer and discussion with God about life. I know there is a lot of searching for God's plan, God's path. There is more prayer than most people ever do. I know this couple is closer to God than many other Christians I know. Through heartache and tough times, we always draw closer to God.

If anyone knows this women, they would know that her heart is bigger than a lot of people's. She has given me so much over the past years of knowing her. She's not just sitting in despair, hoping something happens. She is looking towards the future, towards God's plans for her. She is a Christian through and through. She gives to others: both family and friends. She gives of herself, her money, her time, her talents, her love, her hope, her faith. She has brought more people to Christ than I have, than a lot of people. Her faith is what keeps her going.

I know it's hard for us to empathize and sympathize with those who we don't know well. But I suggest that before we judge, we slip into their shoes even if for just a step. We may find it's hard to walk in the path God has set before them.

This post has just broken my heart to the point of tears. Honestly, why can't we love on one another instead of hating/judging/scorning?
All you need is love, right John Lennon?? I just want this to be clear that I'm not mad; I'm sad that we all can't be more sympathetic towards others. God made us together to have one another to lean on.