The Glass House

Read the following scenario, and asks yourself this...does this sound like something I would do?
 
 "Look at her...
Look at her perfect little dress. In her perfect little body. Kissing her perfect loving husband. And hugging her perfect little kids....
She always seems so happy!
Why can't that be my life??"


 How many of us have thought that to ourselves before?

We see a picture of what we claim is "perfection" and we begin to desire it.

We question,
Why can't I be that small?
Why can't I own that dress?
Why can't my kids behave like her's?
Why can't my husband be that sweet and caring?

But what we fail to realize is...
What we see, may not be the entire picture. What we see is only a small glimpse into what that woman's life is really like.
Maybe that sweet and caring husband is physically abusive behind closed doors.
Maybe those children are so well-mannered because they are afraid of being beaten...again...
Maybe she is so small because she can barely afford to feed herself, and maybe that dress was a hand me down from some good Samaritan. 
Maybe she always seems so happy, because she plasters on a fake smile to avoid being asked what's wrong...
Maybe she can't tell anyone about her hidden life because the man destroying her has the job and source of income that is keeping her and her children alive.

If you saw that side of the picture, would you still want to live her life?

The truth is, we only see the side of people that they want us to see. And face it, some people are better at hiding things than you think.

(BUT, maybe that's not the case.
Maybe their life really is THAT good...
Even then...jealousy and covetousness is a sin....ok, that's another post...what was i saying again? oh yea...)

The best thing we can do for anyone is pray for them.
Even if you truly believe their life is already perfect, pray for them.
Everyone is fighting some type of battle.
Everyone is dealing with the consequences of some bad desicion they have made (or the consequences of a bad decision someone else has made).
Everyone is struggling to win an invisible spiritual battle.
It may not be the same as the one you are fighting, but they are fighting one.

We aren't God. We don't have supernatural abilities to see through walls, and we definitely don't have the supernatural ability to look inside someone's heart.

The Bible even tells us in I Samuel 16:7,
          That man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 

So the next time you feel like you have the right to judge someone because of what they decide to let you see, think again.
And think about your own life. Do you let everyone see every aspect of your life? Or do you do the exact same thing that other woman is doing? Are you putting on a fake front?

I guess in a round-about way what I'm trying to say is,
1) things are not always as they appear
2) everyone is fighting some type of battle
3) prayer is the most effective way to deal with every situation in life
4) yea, I got nothing else, I just like type lists out :)

And to close out, let me share with you a story that I have seen pop up recently all over the place.
I believe it really drives the idea of the post home:

"See that boy doing his homework in homeroom? … He couldn’t do it last night because he was too busy talking his best friend out of suicide. See that girl, with her face caked in make up? … She’s bullied, she needs to feel beautiful. See him, the one who wears long sleeves everyday? … He covers his arms to hide the scars. See her, with the cheap, hand-me-down clothes? … Her family can’t afford food for half the month, let alone get brand names. See the girl who laughs and smiles at every little thing? … She cries herself to sleep every night. Wonder why she never lets her friends over her house? … Because she’s afraid they’ll see her dad passed out drunk on the floor, as always. See how that girl cringes at rape jokes? … She was raped. See the boy who everyone goes to for advice? … He wishes someone would do the same for him. See the girl who never brings a lunch? … She’s disgusted by her body. See her, with the little waist? … She goes to the bathroom and forces herself to throw up so that she can keep her waist that way. See the boy over there, see the dark circles under his eyes? … He has insomnia, he fears what he’ll see in his dreams. See that girl daydreaming over there? … She has schizophrenia. See the boy biting his nails? … He has cancer and he’s wondering how much time he has left. See your best friend? … She’s addicted to drugs, but she can’t tell you because you wont understand. See that boy reading all about 9/11? … His parents died on that day. See her, with her phone on her at all times? … She’s waiting for a call saying her sister was found after a kidnapping 4 years ago. Don’t judge."

Live..Laugh...Love
Until Next Time,
Racheal <3