“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” // Luke 6:37-38
Rubbing my forehead in frustration, I got up from my chair and walked over to my son—an energetic, rambunctious three-year-old with a penchant for bumps and bruises. This time, after I asked him to stop standing on the kitchen bench and sit on his bottom, he took a tumble.
Bonking his head on the way down, he was crying and asking for me. I picked him up and offered soothing words, kissed his boo-boos, and sent him on his way.
All the while thinking, I just asked you to sit down. I just told you that you could fall and bonk your head. I told you so.
Later that week, I was frantically looking for my husband's earphone case. Earlier, I had seen the baby gnawing on it while he toddled around the house. I had turned to my husband to let him know that the baby had his case and he probably wanted to grab it from the teething baby. My husband had brushed off my concerns and did not think much of it.
But, like I predicted, several hours later, my husband came asking me if I'd seen his earphone case. Rolling my eyes, I looked under pillows, in couch cushions, in the toy box looking for that case.
All the while thinking, I told you to grab the case before the baby lost it. Now I'm looking for this stupid thing. I told you so.
Did I verbalize this "I told you so" sentiment? No. But you better believe I was rolling my eyes, passing judgment, and having a mightier than thou attitude, which is not any better.
How many times have I slipped up and done the thing I was not supposed to? How many errors in judgment or mistakes or miscalculations do I make on a daily basis? (Answer: a lot.)
But in His infinite kindness, God does not finger wag at me with a booming "I told you so." He forgives with tenderness and, when I need it, loving correction.
How can you show up better for your loved ones today? How can you turn an "I told you so" attitude into kindness and compassion?
He forgives with tenderness. // @substance_soulClick to tweet
Dr. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm is a wife and mom to four little ones and practices dentistry at a public health community center for low income families in the Bay Area, California. She (unashamedly) thinks ice cream is its own food group and does not leave the house without wearing sparkly earrings. She was a contributing author to All She Had. and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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