"Just so, every good tree bears good fruit..."
Matthew 7:15-20
But also, just so, some years the crop may be a bit better than other years, am I right? I'd like to think that I'm a good little tree, bearing good fruit. Thanks be to God, my life has been rich and wonderful, filled with fabulous friends, family, rewarding work and all. But, I am honest in realizing my crop of good fruit was smaller some years than others! Even so, the career that I began August, 1979 in Miles City, Montana, ends today in Idaho. I can honestly say that it's been the best career I could have ever hoped to have, having met such great people and being able to help people, every day, if I did it right. When I prayed, as a high school senior, for God to show me what I was to do, I couldn't imagine how God would lead and guide me into such a lovely life! Now, it's time to move on, move over, actually, to my new home and life in Boise. I hope my new tree there will bear good fruit, too. I plan to continue writing these reflections, as long as God continues to teach me these little life lessons. They may be a bit different, however, as I will be writing from my new home, a third floor apartment with a big tree growing right outside my little balcony. Because of that, the reflections will be called "Tales from the Treehouse" and will begin in a week or two. Blessings and prayers for you and yours and see you soon! Love, heidi
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Monday, June 25, 2018
Stop judging!
"Jesus said to his disciples, 'Stop judging, that you may not be judged.'"
Matthew7:1
This is one of the hardest lessons Jesus gave to us, clearly! We all read this, each time this Gospel comes around, and give it a groan. "It's too hard!" One little technique I have found through the years is this...
When tempted to judge someone for an action we find difficult to take, ask yourself what may be behind the action. What is it about the situation or the individual that causes them to do what they do? Is there something about the situation or the person that makes their action logical? Or reasonable? Going for the "why" of person's action, may help us to stop judging them or at least may help us to judge them more kindly and with compassion. Judging others is in our human nature and we must battle the urge constantly. If we pray for the Holy Spirit to give us the guidance to look at the actions of others with more understanding, we may find our judgments less harmful. If we pray for loving eyes to see others how God sees them, our judgments will be more kind. Maybe that is a good first step for us on our road to stop judging others. Love, heidi
Matthew7:1
This is one of the hardest lessons Jesus gave to us, clearly! We all read this, each time this Gospel comes around, and give it a groan. "It's too hard!" One little technique I have found through the years is this...
When tempted to judge someone for an action we find difficult to take, ask yourself what may be behind the action. What is it about the situation or the individual that causes them to do what they do? Is there something about the situation or the person that makes their action logical? Or reasonable? Going for the "why" of person's action, may help us to stop judging them or at least may help us to judge them more kindly and with compassion. Judging others is in our human nature and we must battle the urge constantly. If we pray for the Holy Spirit to give us the guidance to look at the actions of others with more understanding, we may find our judgments less harmful. If we pray for loving eyes to see others how God sees them, our judgments will be more kind. Maybe that is a good first step for us on our road to stop judging others. Love, heidi
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