Don’t Judge

Don’t Judge

God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

I worked for two years as a social worker at the Veterans Affairs hospital in my community. During that time, I was assigned to the chemical dependency and mental health treatment program. Veterans would enter treatment for approximately a month and a half and live on campus while working hard at getting their lives in order. I would come alongside as a therapist and care coordinator to listen to their experiences, help them set goals, counsel them, and encourage them to start new, healthier habits. Before I began working there, I had the unspoken assumption that the veterans coming for help were very different from me and the people closest to me. After all, I’d never dealt with a severe mental illness or addiction.

I am a bit embarrassed to admit this now, because I quickly realized that nothing could have been further from the truth. The men I met reminded me so much of those closest to me—mostly my husband and father. They had similar senses of humor and protective feelings over their loved ones. They were hardworking and kind and compassionate, wanting to do right by their families.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that we were not that different, although they may have experienced things I never had. We all desired love and belonging, all wanted to find meaning in life and pursue goals and dreams. The whole experience changed my perception of people and friendship and showed me just how harmful it is to judge others without really knowing them.

God alone is the Judge. And therefore, we have no right to judge our neighbor—it’s not our place. Although there may be times we need to confront a friend’s unhealthy behavior, I’ve learned that without knowing someone’s story or experiencing it personally, I can’t be sure how I would respond if put in a similar situation. It’s my job to love others; I’ll leave the judgment to God.

— Kendra

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Think of someone you have been quietly judging and plan to extend God’s love and friendship toward them instead.