Misjudging the Sunlight

Her face was all scrunched up, rather looking like she was scowling. I was a young teenager, and my mom was driving me somewhere. Truthfully, I don’t remember where we were heading. However, I do remember us making a turn and passing a woman at a stop sign. She was waiting to pull out onto the road, and her head was turned towards us. I said to my mom that she sure looked mad. My mom took a look at her and told me that the woman was simply squinting, because the sun was in her eyes. As I took a second look, I saw that my mom was right. The sunlight was streaming directly in the woman’s eyes, and she was squinting to try to see.

This happened a long time ago, but the memory of it has always stuck with me. How many times do I still jump to conclusions and misjudge people? The answer, unfortunately, is still way too many times. I try to look at the whole picture and also think about the fact that we never know all that is going on in someone else’s life. It seems to me that it’s a great idea to look at others with a lot more grace and a lot less judgment. I know I hope others will look at me that way.

One of my favorite verses says, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16). How I want my life to be marked by love! Thankfully, this is actually possible. It is only possible because of Jesus and the fact that He is changing me as I yield to Him. It is definitely a process and not an overnight change, but like the psalmist, I pray, “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me.” (Psalm 57:2).

God is always faithful and always loving. You can count on it!

~ Sarah