Just a snapshot of life

I was thinking on the way home today, that our lives, speaking of oneself, are like a moving picture, but the lives of others around us are more like photographs. If you think about it, what we see of the lives of others is just little snapshots of what they are really going through. You might see someone walking down the street or entering a restaurant. You may think to yourself, "Wow I am so glad that they are getting to go on a walk," or whatever. You would walk away or continue driving on thinking to yourself, "I bet that person must go on walks a lot." But really, that is just an impression that our brains paint together based on a few seconds of information. What their lives are really like is still a complete mystery. We encounter our own lives with every minute detail. Every second that we are conscious we are recording memories and judging our paths and choices. But the lives of others can be so unfairly judged based on just these small glimpses. We see people walking into a fancy restaurant or walking down the street with a Juicy purse and make certain calls about that persons life. But in reality, we have no idea what their circumstances are. Sure, they might actually be able to go to fancy restaurants when they want to, or buy a new purse on a whim, but the reality could also be the opposite. Maybe they have come across these circumstances by other means, through gifts from others, careful planning or personal sacrifice. I look at my own life, and then try to look at it from the snap shot perspective. What do the choices that I make every day regarding outfits, what my kids are wearing, what I drive, my attitude, how I spend my money (when I actually have some,)how my kids act towards others, or my interaction with humanity say about my circumstances and priorities in life. Do they reflect careful planning, the knowledge that God will provide for my family and I, frugality, a love for Christ and wise choices? Or do they say something else?

As a Christian, I am charging myself with the task of reflecting on these things more carefully. It is so important to me that people see the important things about my life, and not judge me based on what I have. I am so blesses in so many ways. May family blesses me. I get the most beautiful clothes from my Mom and Sister for myself and my youngest Sarah Rose. Jason and I were blessed by the investment in real estate in California, before the market tanked. God has blessed us with vehicles that are nice, run and get good gas mileage. He also lead us through the purchase and organization of the property that we call home now. I look at families trying to buy now and know that if God had not had his hand in the process 6 years ago, we would not have been able to get what we got then, much less now. He continues to bless our property, allowing us to stay above water in a financially soaked market. He lead us to a church full of beautiful people, with beautiful hearts and a passion for Christ. Above all, He protects and feeds my family each and every day, and continues to bless us even when we can't imagine where the blessing could come from next. I also know what He asked us to sacrifice in order to be where we are now. We were asked to move 900 miles from everything and everyone we ever knew. He asked me to not see my Mom and Dad and Grandparents, for months and years at a time. He asked me to not be involved in the day to day lives of my brothers and sisters. These things can break my heart, and do if I am not careful. But these things also make me truly treasure every moment that I get to spend with them. I know that even these times, though they always seem too short, are also a gift from God.

So, the next time you find yourself judging someone based on just a snapshot of their life, back up a second, and think about it from a different perspective. You do not know the choices that they had to make or the sacrifices that it took to get them to where they are. You don't know how God impacts their lives. You don't know how they are feeling or how they are reacting to the world around them. It's going to be hard, but we can do it.

Then there are the people in your life that say one thing but are clearly not really truly living what they say they are living. And then, I feel like I have a little more ability to see the full picture. These people are the hypocrites of the world, the charlatans.... And they will be judged by the true judge, the only judge that really matters.