No, he is a phony! This is all I hear my six year old, Ariyah, saying from the other room as she is watching a show with her dad that reveals how magicians do some tricks. She was a little disappointed when her dad tried to explain that illusions are how the tricks are done. Ariyah argued that magic is real because she has seen it and knows it is real. How many times do we believe something because we see it, but we have been completely fooled because we didn’t want dig deeper to find the truth? How many times do we jump to conclusions about our children’s actions without digging a little deeper? We let our misinterpretation of what we see hinder relationships. I am reminded of an Andy Griffith episode: Andy, Opie, and Horatio. Check it out on YouTube if you haven’t seen it.
Yes, I know! I know I have been a giraffe when it comes to my children’s behaviors at times.(Andy Griffith reference) Basically, I am saying I have been quick to be selfish when it comes to the behavior of my children because I don’t want it to reflect badly on me. I have learned through the years that things are not all ways as they seem because there is often more to what we see sometimes. There is more to our children’s and even others actions that we quickly judge based on what we think we know or even observe.
When we choose to judge others on what we perceive what does it say about us? I feel this past week God has really spoken to me. I find myself looking at things a little differently today. I wouldn’t want people to make judgments and assumptions about me based on what they see when they look at me. My attitude isn’t always the best, but I surely don’t want anyone yelling “You are a phony”, at me. However, if you see me when I am driving or riding with our teenage children you might be warranted to yell it at me because my flesh gets the best of me.
However, none of these things define how God loves me or calls me to love others. God loves me just the way I am, flaws and all, just as He loves every flawed individual. Often times we allow illusions to cloud our judgments when we need to humble ourselves and search for the truth and understanding. Everyone isn’t always going to do what we think they should, many times we might not agree with others actions especially our children’s but let’s be careful not to yell phony based on a glimpse of what we perceive as the truth.
James 4:6 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 3:8-9Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing
Are we too busy calling phony that we don’t give grace, or compassion?
A Hall of a Day 