Thou Shall Not Judge

I'm not a puritanical Christian or anything close to being labelled as staunched but being brought up in Christian family and attending church every Sunday was our routine when I was growing up. I was very active in church; participating in practically everything I could possibly join because I enjoyed it, more so with the company of fun, loving and nice people. I grew up with the Royal Rangers and was part of the tambourine dance group. My parents used to send my sister and I for tambourine dance practice held every Friday night in church. On Sundays, we spent the entire day was spent at church with Royal Rangers. We practically knew everyone in church and they were like our extended family. Those were the days.

But those were also the days where I build my foundation in knowing Christ. The Royal Rangers and Sunday Schools contributed to that foundation. This foundation that I build will remain to make up the person I am today. It constitues my thoughts, feelings, actions, and response to everthing that comes my way. I've learnt about the 10 Commandments, the parables of the Lost Coin, studied the book of Genesis and Acts, Revelation, the book of Corinthians chapter 13 which speaks about love, Psalms, Matthew and a lot more. However, there is one thing that kept playing in my head for the past few days: Do not judge others for you'll be judge also.

Last Saturday afternoon on July 4, 2009, I got word from my sister that an aquaintance's father had just passed away. This aquantaince of mine was a friend while we were growing up. We were in the same tambourine class, Royal Rangers, and Sunday School and attended the same high school. Our parents knew theirs and this 'aquaintanceship' dates back to 1989 when we were only 8 years old. When we were younger, we were friends. Then as we grew older, we became just mere aquantaince. They (there's two of them) were a pain because of their endless boastfullness about everything and anything under the sun. Most people in school didn't like them either. Not that I have anything against them but I preferred to keep my distance.

I knew their parents. And i felt that their attitude took after their parents. Their parents can be a little obnoxious at times but that's just it. Their father has been sick for quite a while but he is a man after God, God fearing and faithful Christian. Prior to his demise, I always thought of him as arrogant and chauvinistic because of a certain remarks he has made as well as the look he gives people. When I heard he was getting very ill and will be dying, I sympathize with his family. My perception towards him changed. That's when the "thou shall not judge other" played in my head.

Maybe he wasn't an arrogant man. Maybe he was just sick and didn't feel like smiling. Maybe he had a lot of things going on in his head. Maybe he was sad. There could be tonnes of reasons to explain his attitude or looks but we should not judge. I felt sorry for judging him. I should not judge people and will continue to remind myself this. It is always good to give people the benefit of a doubt but i think my husband would beg to differ.

We attended his funeral and I paid my respects. I know also that he is with the Lord and that he has touched many lives. And I'm at peace. We do not know him well. We do not know his thoughts and actions. So lets not judge others else you will too be judged.