I grew up in Stone Mountain,GA. I went to high school in a zip code that had a median income of $69,520. Needless to say, I didn’t grow up in the “hood”. People that went to High School with me, drove brand new SUVs and BMWs. I say all this not to say that makes me better than anyone but it does make me aware of those around me.
A lot of my friends came from single family homes and had women who worked hard to get their children into that zip code. But what makes her different than the mother with 6 kids working hard in a zip code who’s median income is $27,000?
This week I had the opportunity to speak to a friend of mine who was also raised in the same area I was. She however thinks she is “giving” back to lower income areas by going to work in those neighborhoods. She and I continued to converse about the children she teaches and their mentality about the future. She continued to passed down judgement on her student’s mothers and the lack of fathers. I asked her did she know their stories and she had no response.
The Bible says in Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
How can we judge others if we don’t know their story. I had a good friend of mine who grew up in the hood. Her sister was murdered in a drive by in her neighborhood, her mother however refused to be a victim. Her mother “Jessica” earned a degree and worked her way to obtain a law degree. My friend “Linda” grew up in the “other” zip code. But by the time Linda was in high school she moved into our zip code. Not a lot of people knew Linda’s story and her mother wasn’t going around telling people.
How can we merely judge Jessica/Linda when we have our own issues. Do you know how many people will steal/kill/lie just to stay in this “zip code” because of what others will say. So before we cast judgment on someone without knowing their story, know that the Lord can take you from that zip code in the blink of an eye.
That is so true. I have a friend who talks about people like that. Its like in some way she feels she is better than them because of her job and her degree. Its disheartening to hear her talk like that because we were all coming from the same place, riding the same school bus.