You Are Not Who They See

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
I Samuel 16:7

I remember growing up and feeling judged by my classmates. My parents felt that making me wear dresses, and not cut my hair or wear earrings made me holy in some way. Personally I think it made them feel more righteous, but alas they wanted the very best for their daughter and felt that seeing to it that I was dressed according to their convictions was the right thing to do. I remember being teased relentlessly, because all of the other girls wore bell bottoms and smock tops. I wanted to do all the things they were doing and couldn’t because I was in a dress. I wanted others to see me as the girl who loved to jump rope, run races, swim and compete. It seemed that no one could get past my outward packaging, or how I was adorned. That part of my life ended and after I had children, I was judged for their appearances and became frustrated because nobody could see I was doing the best I was able under my circumstances. I felt ostracized within the church because outside of the church I lived with an alcoholic/drug-addict and it seemed my life was lived on the edge of what is right and wrong, and more often than not, life was wrong.
All of the judgement I felt I was under caused me to be both more sympathetic and empathetic to others around me.There were so many times though when I felt inferior. Because of the way church goers acted, I felt that must be how God felt about me as well. Feeling inferior is a horrible feeling, and nobody should ever be made to feel that way, because in God’s eyes he see’s each of us uniquely, and loves us equally regardless of our physical appearance. He see’s our emotions, our desires, our passions, and all the things that keep us putting one foot in front of the other. He doesn’t expect me to be like you, or you to be like me.
God was able to see what nobody else could see. He could see how I relied on him and how I loved him and still do. Then came another who showed me earthly love and what it means to love, and be loved without fear.
I’m going to challenge you today. From now on when you meet someone, look them in the eye. Listen to them and try not to notice how tight their clothes are, how much they weigh, whether or not the color of their hair is real or purchased from a bottle, the cost of their clothing and how clean their shoes are. Give them a genuine heart and see how God blesses that. It’s not the packaging that’s important. It’s your soul.