I've been reading I Am A Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson again (thanks again Melinda) and have been highlighting passages like crazy. This one seemed especially good.
"Elder Bruce C. Hafen said: "Can we love and support each other without judging each other harshly? So many of us are trying our hardest to live the commandments, often against great odds in our personal lives and unique family situations. Heaven knows, the world isn't giving us much support in these relationships. Let us support one another, even when--especially when--we differ on matters of personal choice and circumstance. Those are usually differences of preference, not principle."
"In every woman's story there are unknowns--struggles only she knows about, fears she's tried to overcome but still harbors, disappointments and sorrows she bears. The last thing any of us wants--or needs--is to be judged by others who don't know our stories, in part or at all." page 104
I love this and really appreciate the reminder. We never have all the information about anyone and really don't need to be tsk-tsking about other people's lives anyway. I would really like to live without judgements (both about me and from me) and want to make this an area of improvement in my life this year.
**What do you think??**
20 comments:
I get to be the first of the 9!
This is such a great quote and one that I need to hear often...it is too easy as women to think that there is only one right way to do everything. Thanks for your wonderful Sunday thoughts!
I loved this quote from you so much I downloaded it, printed it out and posted it! It seems like my ward has such a problem with this....maybe it's just because I have been on the receiving end of being judged several times in the last year and have thin skin...however, I am always thankful for a reminder of being quicker to be Christlike...thanks
I have never understood why us women do this to each other? I say us because I too have done it...not that you have.
Great quote.
our church moved to 11:00
I am SO Happy!!!!! If churched stayed at nine I was going to put a sign in my yard that said, hell no we won't go. ;)
sorry but I am very passionate about not going at 9:00 this year.
I LOVE that quote! Especially the second paragraph -- so, so, true -- and it seems particularly germane to bloggers, doesn't it? We never know the whole story.
8:30 church had a whole new level today with windchill that was -13 degrees!
Jill...your Sunday posts have inspired me...I am now taking a notebook with me and jotting down notes. I've decided to post a "Sunday Thoughts" on my blog as well.
I'm still relatively new to this whole blogging thing...and find myself doing alot of copying of ideas for themes, etc.--Consider this the ultimate compliment!
I really liked the quote on judging! I can't tell you how many times that I have pre-judged someone only to find out the real story...I'm working on being better.
oh boy.. this is something so many women struggle with..I am guilty as well.. and hope I can spare my judgement more often!
I try, oh I really try, but I often find myself having small thoughts that I have to remind myself would I want others judging me?
I'd be happy to get 9 comments on any given day. ;)
I loved this whole book... and this is a big part of the message. Support, not tear down. It's so much easier not to judge when you really take time to get to know a person and their story. Good reminder. :)
(litle side note Jill: I just let Alissa Norcutt and Christine Goodwin- don't remember their married last names- know about your blog. They were excited to get back in touch with you.)
I completely agree. I have a tendency to judge others in a nice way while comparing myself in a negative way. Either way, it's not a good habit.
I love your Sunday thoughts posts!
Fantastic quote! I am trying to work on this...on not judging, no t jumping to conclusions...but it is hard to do. I LOVE that book, I have read it twice, and got even more out of it the second time!
Ok, Ok, I am leaving a comment ...
(so sorry I don't more often)
It is a hard thing to not judge others- but I am so much better off when I don't. All to often I find out "the rest of the story" and am brought to tears of what others are going through, while I am unaware.
Wonderful reminder for the start of this new year.
(our church schedule changes in 2 weeks to 2-5...ouch!)
I'm with Nikki - I'd kill for 9 comments. . .your following is huge, Jill!
I enjoyed this thought. In college, most of my close friends were men and I think it was for exactly this reason - women are so hard on each other!
I loved this book. I should pull it out again. I remember there being so many great quotes like this one.
(NINE comments would be a huge day for me too!)
wow. i mean, really, your sunday posts always evoke emotion but the last quote really hit me.
I love your Sunday thoughts. Loved this book. This quote is something we all need!
this reminds me of a book i bought called 'nasty people' when i was trying to figure out how to deal with someone in my life. not surprisingly, in the process of reading it i realized that i was a nasty person. i came to understand that i see my judgments of other people as reality and not as negative perceptions that i place on them. when i realized that i was a nasty person it really bothered me, but the funny thing is that i would have had no problem labeling this friend as such. i want people to be understanding of my story, but do i afford that to others?
This must have struck a chord -- you have almost double the 9 usual comments! :)
My friend April always would talk about how everyone has secret histories, even as far back as high school. She was wise even back then. It's so true. We're all in this muck together, and it only makes sense to try to lift each other up.
Jill I love this and think about this all the time. It's definitely peculiar to me that woman, in particular, aren't supporting each other through hard times or rather judging them. I was just talking to Adam about this the other day saying "aren't we all just trying to get to the same end?"
It's really is so easy to make a snap judgment about someone else's life when we don't have all the pieces or have had little experience with what they are going through. It is definitely something I can and want to improve this year as well. Thanks for the reminder today.
What a great reminder. Thanks.
Great thoughts. My Mother has taught me in her later years that she feels that even making commnents (regarding one's choice of dress, lack of, weight, hairstyle, etc) is judgement. We all have our opinions and many are justified and fairly correct. Since she has made it clear to me that she is really trying to hold back these kind of comments and thoughts, I have tried myself to do the same. These kinds of comments are so easy to make to each other when we are out and about!
With your prompt, I will remind myself more often that these comments and thoughts should be checked . I really want to treat others as the Savior would. I know this is a huge charge, but I'm going for it!
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