MAKING A JUDGEMENT BASED ON APPEARANCE
If you have ever been around a child, then you have heard this statement, “I don’t like the way it looks!” Children can be very judgemental about the appearance of almost everything, and unfortunately, so can us adults.
One Saturday a few months ago, Emersyn was over visiting with me when she decided that she was hungry. She came into the kitchen and asked me for something to eat. As usual, my cupboards were almost bare, but I did have some leftover food from eating out the night before. I got the food out and warmed it up for her. But, when I set the plate down in front of her, she turned up her nose and refused to eat anything. I asked her what the problem was, and that is when she informed me that she didn’t like the food. I asked her if she had ever tried this before, and she responded, “no, but I don’t like the way it looks.”
How many of us are guilty of this same thing? Every day we make instant judgments that are based on looks, instead of on facts. Have you ever been guilty of saying that you don’t like someone because of the way they look? I’ll be honest, I have done that before. Some people have a surly look, and we assume that is their personality. However, that might be the farthest thing from the truth. Some people appear kind and sweet, and that can also be the farthest thing from the truth. Appearance is not something that you can rely on when dealing with people, or food.
John 7:24 (NIV)
24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
My great aunt was one of the gruffest, grouchy, looking women that you could ever come across. She was also one of the kindest, nicest women that you would ever meet. I loved her so much, even though I got to hear several lectures on how I should be helping my mother more. She was probably correct in her speeches, and to this day, I think of her all the time. She made a huge impact on me, and I now look past a gruff outward appearance of others.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Just like my aunt could have been easily judged incorrectly, others can be deemed nice when their hearts are dark. I take people at face value, and I assume that they are exactly as they appear. However, I have been hurt more than once to find out that they are not as they seem. I may not be able to see inside people’s hearts correctly, but the Lord knows.
Once Emersyn got hungry enough, she decided to give the food a taste test. Guess what? Emersyn found out after she put aside her preconceived notions, she loved the food. It is now one of her favorites dishes, and she asks her Pa to go and get it for her all the time.
Have A Blessed Day!
Thanks for that Tania.its a good reminder. We don’t know what’s in people’s hearts and minds.
Absolutely true in every way, shape and form. I’d rather be hurt and give people a chance, than to ignore them.
Have a wonderful Sunday, Tania!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
What a great reminder!?. Have a wonderful day.
A wonderful lesson!
I needed this reminder! Very well written. Thank you.
You’re right – too often we (I) judge on appearances. Thanks for this post. Have a blessed Sunday.
I’ve just recently started to receive your emails, tho I’ve been following your fashion blog for awhile. I very much appreciate that the looks you present are actually, for real, wearable, and affordable in the non-celebrity world that I live in! I didn’t realize that you are Christian, which has nothing to do with fashion ~ in fact, is decidedly unfashionable, I suspect ~ and I can’t say why that makes a difference, but to me it does. Maybe because it’s happy-making to know that we look at life, and fashion, from the same side of the runway. Anyway, have a wonder full day, Tania!
Loved how you described your aunt….I think we were related 🙂
Everyone deserves an aunt like mine. I didn’t tell everyone what her names was…she was born with the name Tipsy Topsy. No wonder she was grouchy. LOL!
This is a great reminder! I hope that you have a relaxing and blessed Sunday 🙂
Kelly, I hope you liked the post! Have a great day!