This weekend I was reminded of the importance of being patient and of not being too quick to judge.  I need to remind myself daily about giving people the benefit of the doubt.

I am most impatient when I believe someone is fully capable of handling a job more quickly and with more passion than they are working at the time.  I find myself counting backward from 10 and praying that I am able to smile and ward off any negative judgments. 

The use of handicapped parking spaces is another situation where I have caught myself judging people without knowing anything about their situation.  I learned early on in life that sometimes people are very sick, but nothing is visible to someone who does not know them personally.  A good friend of mine had a handicapped parking sticker.  When I was with her, I could feel that people were questioning or judging her need for that sticker.  However, her health issues were serious and her need was genuine.  When I feel myself being judgmental, this example often comes to my mind and quickly eliminates my judgmental thoughts. 

Daily I work at eliminating unsubstantiated judgments.  I recall in the fashion industry watching many retailers quickly judge customers entering the store.  As I saw these judgments being made, I would recall a time when I was judged in a store while shopping with a friend. 

I was in graduate school and was dressed to teach a class.  My friend was in sweatpants.  As far as the retail salesperson was concerned, my friend did not exist; I was the center of her attention because of how I was dressed.  My friend could have purchased anything in the store and was the one who wanted to shop.  I did not have a cent to my name and had no interest in purchasing anything. 

That salesperson was too quick to judge.  She looked at our appearance and made a judgment call that cost her a sale.  Had she engaged with both of us and looked deeper than appearance, she may have been successful.  As my friend and I left the store, we laughed at the missed opportunity, but I never forgot that lesson. 

I am always thankful when patience prevails, particularly when we act out of character.  Often when someone acts out of character, I realize that the person or family received devastating news or had a traumatic experience.  I have seen people very close to me act and do things out of character when under stress.  Sometimes things are so out of character that I would not have believed it if I had not seen it myself.  Having patience and not being too quick to judge is a true blessing in these moments. 

When I recognize that I am making a quick judgment, I refocus and pray that I have the patience to reevaluate the situation, see the whole picture, and see the whole person.

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